Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant

Here is a list of things you can do now to get ahead with the application process.

1. Pre-Register your business on the required state sites
2. Read the Administrative Rules - they offer great insight to what will be expected 
3. Get these important documents ready to go: 
   • Proof of entity: Federal Employer Identification Number, FEIN issuance letter from the Internal Revenue Service, or registration with the Illinois Secretary of State to do business in Illinois.        
   • Proof of "established”: at least two types of documentation per year for at least three years, including:
     a. Documentation from a source other than the applicant of the date the business was started in Illinois.
     b. Documentation from government agencies of the business' operations or activities; tax records; media coverage describing the project or business's first actions (or prior actions so long as they meet the definition of "established" in these rules). 
   • Proof of the number of employees:
     a. Applicant's payroll logs showing how many people were paid by the applicant for each pay period for the 12 months preceding application;
     b. IRS Form 941 for the four quarters preceding application, Illinois Form UI-3/40 Employer's Contribution and Wage report for the four quarters preceding application.

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 Agriculture 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.

LFIG Grant Administrator

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

email: agr.lfig@illinois.gov