WASHINGTON — The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Heartland Regional Food Business Center announced an investment of over $3.7 million to support small, mid-size and diverse food and farm entrepreneurs. The funds are allocated to Business Builder Grants, which work to promote business expansion, job creation, business capacity building and local products.

The Heartland Center has received a total of $11.15 million for its Business Builder program. It will begin accepting applications for the first round of funding of $3.7 million through Oct. 15 for projects in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and northwest Arkansas. The center will continue to accept proposals semiannually for competitive subawards of $5,000 to $50,000.

The following will be prioritized:

  • Small farms and small businesses in urban and rural areas that operate along the local and regional food value chain.
  • Food and farm entrepreneurs who are indigenous, immigrant, people of color, veterans and otherwise disadvantaged, such as those with physical disabilities.   
  • Food and farm entrepreneurs who are eager and ready to build their enterprises, from startup through growth.  
  • Food and farm entrepreneurs who are unsure of eligibility and where to go for assistance and unfamiliar with resources.  

“The Business Builder grant opportunity will inject much needed capital for building and strengthening local food systems in the Heartland,” said Katie Nixon, Heartland Center co-director and leader of the Food Systems Program at New Growth. “We are excited and ready to provide technical assistance to applicants on their ideas and applications. We are here to support our food and farm businesses in their efforts to feed their communities.”

In May 2023, USDA awarded $360 million to finalists to establish 12 USDA Regional Food Business Centers and a National Intertribal Food Business Center to provide local and regional food systems coordination, technical assistance and capacity building. These Centers assist small and mid-sized producers and food and farm businesses with the goal of creating a more resilient, diverse and competitive food system.

The Heartland Regional Food Business Center is led by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and rural Missouri community development corporation New Growth, with a focus on expanding the local and regional food system in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and northwest Arkansas.