The Northeast Regional Food Business Center, operated under a cooperative agreement with the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, has announced the first round of its Business Builder sub-award program. This initiative is part of the USDA’s broader Regional Food Business Center program and is designed to strengthen regional food systems by supporting small- and mid-sized farm and food businesses. The NASDA Foundation is the administrative partner for the program, and the Northeast Center is focused on developing a resilient, regionally coordinated food economy through access to capital, business development, and market expansion.

The Business Builder program opens for applications on February 24, 2025, and closes on April 7, 2025. The first funding round anticipates awarding approximately $10 million in total funding, with between 180 and 350 awards. Applicants must either possess a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) or demonstrate that they are in the process of obtaining one through SAM.gov at the time of application submission.

Three funding tracks are available, each with its own eligibility and award range. Track 1 supports the purchase of special-purpose equipment for post-harvest activities such as processing, storage, and transportation, with awards ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 and is open to businesses with $350,000 or less in annual revenue. Track 2 offers awards between $15,000 and $25,000 for financial and business development assistance, also limited to businesses with revenue at or below $350,000. Track 3 is for product and market expansion projects, with award amounts between $50,000 and $100,000 and is open to businesses with annual revenues up to $1 million.

Eligible applicants include farm and food businesses, aquaculture and wild-caught fisheries operations, and nonprofits that meet the revenue limits established for each funding track. All applicants must operate within the Northeast region and maintain operations in good standing throughout the project period. Additionally, projects must align with regional priorities such as value-added production, diversification of post-harvest activities, or market access strategies.

Information sessions and webinars have been scheduled to guide applicants through the process. These include a pre-recorded webinar on February 24, 2025, and multiple live sessions with recordings available for those unable to attend in real time. Additional resources such as an Application Checklist, Scoring Rubric, and FAQs are available on the grant’s webpage to assist applicants.

For assistance or questions, applicants are encouraged to contact the NASDA Foundation at 4350 North Fairfax Drive #810, Arlington, VA 22203, or by phone at 202-296-9680. More information about the broader USDA Regional Food Business Center program can be found at https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/local-regional/rfbcp.