Business Builder Sub-Award Applications Are Now OPEN

Business Builder Sub-Award Applications Are Now OPEN

The Northeast Regional Food Business Center has opened applications for the first round of Business Builder sub-award funding. The deadline to apply for funding is 4:59 PM ET on April 7, and awarded projects are anticipated to begin activities in August.

For businesses interested in applying to this funding opportunity:

• Application Dates: February 24 – April 7
• Unique Entity ID: Applicants must either present a valid Unique Entity ID (UEI) or provide proof that they are in progress of obtaining a UEI at the point of application submission. Explore the Application Checklist for resources on obtaining a UEI.
• Eligible Entities: Farm and food businesses, including aquaculture and wild-caught fisheries, with $1M or less in annual sales or $350,000 or less in annual sales are eligible to apply (funding track dependent).
• Allowable Uses: Post-harvest activities (farm gate/landing to table), including processing, storage and transportation.

Further information on the funding opportunity can be found here, including the Request for Application, scoring rubric, application checklist and webinar recording. Contact NortheastRFBC@nasda.org with any application- or Center-related inquiries.

Information Sessions: The Center has published a pre-recorded webinar that guides prospective applicants through the application process. The Center will also host four informational sessions to offer applicants an opportunity to ask questions and to respond to any technical issues. Sign-up to join the following sessions:

• Monday, March 3 (9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET)
• Tuesday, March 11 (10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET)
• Wednesday, March 19 (12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET)
• Thursday, March 27 (1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET)

Track 1: Equipment

Track 1 will back the purchase of special-purpose equipment for post-harvest activities, from processing to market. The minimum award value is $25,000 and the maximum award is $50,000. Farm and food businesses with $350,000 or less in annual sales are eligible to apply.

Track 2: Business Development

Track 2 will support business financial acumen and industry knowledge. The minimum award value is $15,000 and the maximum award is $25,000. Farm and food businesses with $350,000 or less in annual sales are eligible to apply.

Track 3: Product & Market Expansion

Track 3 will assist businesses in expansion through new products, broader markets and wider distribution. The minimum award value is $50,000, and the maximum award is $100,000. Farm and food businesses with $1M or less in annual sales are eligible to apply.

Additional Opportunities

Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement, one of the Northeast Regional Food Business Center’s core partners, recently launched the Center’s Community Hub. This online resource offers a regional directory, which allows users to search and filter technical assistance providers in the Northeast by location and services offered. Organizations interested in being added to the directory can sign up here. The platform also hosts free, publicly-accessible business development courses for producers, food businesses and TA providers. Additional courses will be offered within the coming months.

The Center will announce the second funding round for Technical Assistance Provider sub-awards later this year. Awarded providers will be tasked with offering guidance and training to local producers and food and farm businesses, or creating or expanding regional or sub-regional networks of technical assistance providers.