Funder: Illinois Department of Agriculture
Due Dates (Anticipated): December 2026 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $1,000–$75,000 for individual projects; $1,000–$250,000 for collaborative projects; $1.8 million available for FY2027
Summary: Supports Illinois local food infrastructure that expands processing, storage, aggregation, and distribution of value-added agricultural products.
Key Information: Awards are reimbursement-based, so recipients must pay approved expenses before receiving grant funds.
Description
The Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant supports infrastructure that increases market access for Illinois agricultural products within Illinois communities. Administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture under the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Act, it funds individual and collaborative projects involving the purchase, lease-to-own, rental, building, or installation of infrastructure for the local food supply chain.
Supported work includes value-added processing, livestock processing, milling, dairy processing, refrigerated vehicles, food hubs, and community kitchens. Equipment for honey and syrup processing, agroforestry, fish and shrimp processing, aquaponics, hydroponics, and school meal scratch cooking is also eligible. The program prioritizes projects that address infrastructure gaps, improve access for underserved communities and farmers, and support long-term local food-sector economic development.
