February 25, 2025 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The Northeast Regional Food Business Center is excited to announce the launch of the first round of Business Builder sub-awards, designed to strengthen local and regional food systems by providing direct funding to small- and mid-sized farm and food businesses. Ten million dollars will be made available in this round, with awards ranging from $15,000 to $100,000 to support businesses in scaling their operations, expanding markets and connecting various segments of the regional food supply chain.
Small- and mid-sized farm and food business owners and operators in the Northeast U.S. are encouraged to consider applying to one of the three specialist funding tracks:
- Track 1: Equipment ($25,000 – $50,000): Supports the purchase of special-purpose equipment for post-harvest activities, from processing to market.
- Track 2: Business Development ($15,000 – $25,000): Supports business financial acumen and industry knowledge.
- Track 3: Product & Market Expansion ($50,000 – $100,000): Assists businesses in expansion through new products, broader markets and wider distribution.
Applications open Feb. 24 and will close April 7, 2025. Awardees are anticipated to be announced in July, and funded projects will begin activities in August.
To support prospective applicants, the Northeast Regional Food Business Center published a pre-recorded webinar and will host four live informational webinars on March 3, March 11, March 19 and March 27 to answer technical questions and provide guidance on the application process.
The Northeast Regional Food Business Center was established in 2023 and is led by a collaborative structure that includes the NASDA Foundation, New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Buffalo Go Green, Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement and various advisory councils.
For more details and to apply for the Business Builder subawards, visit the Northeast Regional Food Business Center website.
About The NASDA Foundation
The NASDA Foundation is the only educational and research organization that directly serves the nation’s state departments of agriculture. The NASDA Foundation’s mission is to enhance American food and agricultural communities through education, outreach and research. The NASDA Foundation works with states to nourish people and communities while serving as the stewards of the environment and public trust. To learn more about the NASDA Foundation, please visit nasda.org/nasda-foundation/.
