Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS TM RFSP G 25 0002
The Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) grant opportunity is a discretionary grant program from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) designed to help communities and regions plan, coordinate, and grow stronger local or regional food systems. The core idea is to fund partnerships that deliberately connect public and private resources so that food and farm stakeholders are not working in isolation. Instead of supporting a single organization acting alone, RFSP emphasizes structured collaboration where partners jointly set priorities, align services and investments, and track progress toward shared, measurable goals that improve the viability and resilience of a local or regional food economy.
At the center of RFSP is the expectation that applicants will build or formalize a partnership capable of catalyzing food system development across a defined geography. Partnerships are allowed to determine the size and scope of the food system they will serve, meaning the project can be tailored to what makes sense locally (for example, a multi-county region, a metropolitan foodshed, or another clearly defined regional market area). Within that chosen scope, the partnership is expected to coordinate efforts among members, identify gaps and opportunities, connect participants to relevant resources and services, and develop a practical strategy for moving the regional food system forward. The program also anticipates that partnerships will actively engage in outreach and education to bring in potential participants and expand involvement in the partnership agreement and eligible activities.
Another notable feature is the built-in connection to AMS technical assistance. RFSP partnerships are authorized to coordinate with AMS to receive guidance, which signals that USDA expects grantees to work closely with the agency while implementing the project. This is meant to strengthen execution and help partnerships adopt approaches that are both feasible and accountable. Overall, RFSP places a premium on partnerships that combine a range of financial and technical capabilities, show real experience or clear readiness to collaborate across sectors, and propose approaches that are innovative, sustainable over time, and measurable in terms of outcomes and progress.
RFSP also sits within the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) ecosystem, and the opportunity description highlights an important practical advantage: RFSP grant recipients may apply for other LAMP programs on behalf of producers or other eligible entities who want to participate in activities covered under the partnership agreement. In other words, RFSP can function as a coordinating backbone that not only plans and organizes regional food system work, but also helps channel additional LAMP resources to producers and local partners who are positioned to carry out specific eligible projects.
From an administrative standpoint, this funding opportunity is listed as "Regional Food System Partnerships" (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA AMS TM RFSP G 25 0002) under CFDA 10.177, categorized under Agriculture. The agency is USDA AMS, the instrument type is a grant, and the opportunity category is discretionary. The application closing date is 2025-06-27. Awards can be as large as $1,000,000, with approximately 10 awards expected. Eligibility is summarized broadly as "Others," with applicants directed to the official Request for Applications (RFA), specifically the Eligibility section (Section 2.0), for the precise definitions and requirements.Apply for USDA AMS TM RFSP G 25 0002
- The Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Food System Partnerships" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.177.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-05-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-06-27. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) Grant FAQs
What is the Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) grant program?
RFSP is a discretionary grant program from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) that funds partnerships working to plan, coordinate, and strengthen local or regional food systems. The focus is on structured collaboration so that food and farm stakeholders are not operating in isolation.
What is RFSP trying to accomplish?
The program is designed to help communities and regions develop stronger, more viable, and more resilient local or regional food economies by supporting partnerships that jointly set priorities, align services and investments, and track progress toward shared, measurable goals.
Does RFSP fund a single organization, or is it designed for partnerships?
RFSP emphasizes partnerships rather than a single organization acting alone. The expectation is that applicants will build or formalize a partnership that deliberately connects public and private resources and coordinates efforts across stakeholders.
What kinds of activities are RFSP partnerships expected to do?
Based on the opportunity description, partnerships are generally expected to coordinate among members, identify gaps and opportunities in the regional food system, connect participants to relevant resources and services, and develop a practical strategy for moving the regional food system forward. The program also anticipates outreach and education to bring in potential participants and expand involvement in eligible activities under the partnership agreement.
How does RFSP define the region or geography the partnership serves?
Partnerships are allowed to determine the size and scope of the food system they will serve, as long as the geography is defined. Examples mentioned include a multi-county region, a metropolitan foodshed, or another clearly defined regional market area.
What does it mean to "build or formalize" a partnership for RFSP?
RFSP expects applicants to create or strengthen a structured collaboration capable of catalyzing food system development across a defined geography. The emphasis is on partners working together under a partnership agreement to set shared priorities, coordinate actions, and measure progress.
Is outreach and education part of the expected work?
Yes. The opportunity description anticipates that partnerships will actively engage in outreach and education to bring in potential participants and expand involvement in the partnership agreement and eligible activities.
Does RFSP include technical assistance from USDA AMS?
Yes. RFSP partnerships are authorized to coordinate with AMS to receive guidance, and the description signals an expectation that grantees will work closely with the agency while implementing the project.
Why does the RFSP program emphasize measurement and accountability?
RFSP places a premium on partnerships that propose approaches that are feasible and accountable, and that can track progress toward shared, measurable goals. The intent is to demonstrate outcomes and progress over time, not just activity.
What types of partnerships are most aligned with RFSP priorities?
The description emphasizes partnerships that combine a range of financial and technical capabilities, show real experience or clear readiness to collaborate across sectors, and propose approaches that are innovative, sustainable over time, and measurable in outcomes and progress.
How does RFSP relate to the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP)?
RFSP sits within the LAMP ecosystem. The opportunity description highlights that RFSP can function as a coordinating backbone for regional food system work and can help organize participation in activities covered under the partnership agreement.
Can RFSP grant recipients apply for other LAMP programs?
Yes. The description notes that RFSP grant recipients may apply for other LAMP programs on behalf of producers or other eligible entities who want to participate in activities covered under the partnership agreement.
What is the practical advantage of RFSP within LAMP?
RFSP can support planning and coordination while also helping channel additional LAMP resources to producers and local partners who are positioned to carry out specific eligible projects (as long as those activities are covered under the partnership agreement).
Which USDA agency administers this funding opportunity?
The administering agency is the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this RFSP grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA AMS TM RFSP G 25 0002.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.177.
What category is this funding opportunity listed under?
It is categorized under Agriculture.
What type of funding instrument is RFSP?
The instrument type is a grant.
Is RFSP a discretionary or non-discretionary opportunity?
The opportunity category is discretionary.
What is the application deadline?
The application closing date is 2025-06-27.
What is the maximum award size?
Awards can be as large as $1,000,000.
How many awards are expected?
Approximately 10 awards are expected.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is summarized broadly as "Others." Applicants are directed to the official Request for Applications (RFA), specifically the Eligibility section (Section 2.0), for the precise definitions and requirements.
Where can applicants find the exact eligibility requirements?
The opportunity points applicants to the official Request for Applications (RFA), Eligibility section (Section 2.0), for the detailed eligibility definitions and requirements.
Does RFSP require applicants to work with both public and private resources?
The program is designed to fund partnerships that deliberately connect public and private resources so services, investments, and actions are aligned across the regional food system.
What is the core difference between RFSP and isolated project funding?
RFSP is described as a model that prioritizes coordinated, structured collaboration with joint priority-setting and shared measurement, rather than supporting a standalone organization pursuing a project independently.
What is meant by a "coordinating backbone" in the RFSP context?
In the opportunity description, RFSP can function as a partnership-led coordinating structure that organizes regional efforts and, when relevant, supports participation in other LAMP programs on behalf of producers or other eligible entities carrying out activities covered under the partnership agreement.
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