Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) Grant Program
Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) Grant Program supports Rhode Island farmers, seafood producers, and nonprofits with production, marketing, and sustainability projects to strengthen local food sectors.
Funder: Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Due Dates: December 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM (Application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $20,000 per award for up to 24 months; approximately $450,000 available, plus $50,000 for regenerative agriculture
Summary: Supports projects that strengthen Rhode Island’s local agriculture, aquaculture, and seafood sectors through production, marketing, food safety, and sustainable practices.
Key Information: Applicants must be based in Rhode Island; capital grants are limited to small or beginning farmers and their producer groups.
Description
The Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) Grant Program is administered by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Agriculture. Established in 2012 through a public-private partnership and currently funded by the state, it supports the growth, development, and marketing of local food and seafood. Projects may improve business operations, increase production, expand markets, develop value-added products and processing capacity, or improve food safety.
Priorities also include farmland access and protection, succession planning, intergenerational transfers, and climate-smart practices. The program supports new marketing and distribution channels, including those reaching communities with limited access to fresh local food. Specialized regenerative agriculture funding supports practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient runoff, increase carbon sequestration, improve soil health, and strengthen farm resilience.
