Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant

More information coming! 

The Local Food Infrastructure Grant Act created the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program for the development of local food processing, aggregation and distribution.  Starting in Illinois Fiscal Year 2025, the Illinois Department of Agricutlure will administer the grant.  

The LFIG is intended to assist Illinois applicants with purchasing, leasing to own, renting, building, or installation of infrastructure that will increase market access of Illinois agricultural products to Illinois communities. Funding can support value-added processing, livestock processing, milling, dairy, refrigerated vehicles, food hubs, community kitchens and other critical pieces of the local food supply chain.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture will have 1.8 million of available funds for this grant.  Eligible applicants will need to be in Illinois and store, process, package, aggregate or distribute value added products.  This includes, but may not be limited to, IL farms, cooperatives, processing facilities, food businesses, food hubs with 50 employees or less.  Nonprofits and local governments are also eligible.

Grant awards will be available for collaborative and individual projects. For a collaborative project, an applicant will be able to apply for a grant of up to $250,000 and for an individual project $75,000 may be awarded. There will be a required match unless the applicant can prove high need condition.

Currently the Illinois Department of Agriculture is creating the administrative rules for this grant program. More information on eligibity, application processes, match requirements and timelines will be announced at a later date.   

CONTACT:

LFIG Grant Administrator
Illinois Department of Agriculture   
801 E. Sangamon Ave.
Springfield, IL 62702

email: agr.lfig@illinois.gov