AREA FOOD & FARM BUSINESSES ELIGIBLE FOR $25,000 GRANT

HARVEST TO MARKET GRANT OFFERS NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

By Staff

          Food and farm businesses across eligible rural counties in Kansas (including Rice, McPherson, Marion & Harvey), as well as Western Missouri will soon have access to new funding designed to help local food products move from the farm to market.

          HARVEST TO MARKET grant ranges from $5,000 to $25,000 for projects that strengthen businesses serving local and regional food markets.

          There is approximately $1-million in total funding available through the program where applications are due by August 31, 2026, by noon central time.

          The Harvest to Market grant is part of the Heartland Regional Food Business Coalition’s work to ensure small food and farm businesses have the right resources at the right time as they work to meet increasing demand for locally produced and raised food. It is designed to support food and farm enterprises that are ready to expand market access, improve processing capacity, strengthen distribution systems, increase storage infrastructure, or invest in marketing and product development.

          “Many local food businesses have strong products and strong market demand for their products. But they often need help with the next step – the equipment, systems processing, and infrastructure distribution that allow them to reach more customer and larger markets,” pointed out Katie Nixon, Food Systems Director at New Growth.

          As part of their work with the Heartland Food Business Coalition, New Growth administers the Harvest to Market grant which is intended to help businesses make those strategic investments.

          Regarding Funding Priorities – the program focuses on post-harvest and go-to-market investments that help local businesses grow and serve regional markets more effectively.

          Examples would include:

Ø Processing Equipment

Ø Cold Storage and Refrigeration

Ø Distribution and Delivery Equipment

Ø Packaging and Labeling Improvements

Ø Marketing and Branding Investments

Ø Online Sales Platforms

Ø Logistics and Supply Chain Systems

Ø Produce Development

Ø Value-Added Food Processing

Additional consideration will be given to projects that create shared benefits across multiple farms or food businesses, including collaborative distribution, aggregation, and market development efforts.

          Those who can and would be eligible to apply include:

Ø Farms and Ranches

Ø Food Producers

Ø Farmers Markets

Ø Food Hubs

Ø Aggregators and Distributors

Ø Value-Added Processors

Ø Retail Food Businesses

Note that non-profits are not eligible to apply.

Businesses must be located in eligible rural counties in Kansas or western Missouri. See the Heartland Coalition’s website for a map of eligible counties.

          Unlike many grant programs, Harvest to Market does not require matching funds.

          Projects will operate on a partial reimbursement basis with Awardees receiving 60% of grant funds up front with 40% received after they have submitted their final report at the end of their project.

          Projects must be completed within six months.

They must be Building Regional Food Resilience.

The Harvest to Market Grant is part of a larger effort to strengthen local food economies, expand market opportunities for farmers and food entrepreneurs, and improve regional food value chain resilience.

          This project is supported in part by a foundation grant to Heartland Food Business Coalition Partner New Growth, working with The Kansas City Food Hub, The Food Circle University of Missouri Extension, and other partners in Kansas, including Kansas State Extension and the Kansas Rural Center.

          To Learn More: Businesses interested in applying are encouraged to begin preparing now and to connect with a business counselor for support.

          For updated, eligibility information, and application details or to connect with a business counselor visit:

Heartlandfoodbusiness.org/harvest-to-market-grant/

          About the Heartland Food Business Coalition:

          The Heartland Food Business Coalition supports food and farm entrepreneurs across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Northwest Arkansas through business assistance, market development, financing support, and regional collaboration. The coalition works to strengthen local and regional food systems while expanding economic opportunities for food and agricultural businesses. Heartlandfoodbusiness.org

About New Growth:

New Growth is a nonprofit in west central Missouri working to build small businesses, small farms, and small-town opportunities. For more information on New Growth go to newgrowthmo.org