Through funding provided to the NDREC Foundation, our rural development center is a technical assistance provider to the North Central USDA Regional Food Business Center. Our services include:
- Connecting local food producers and other businesses in the food supply chain with financial assistance and funding.
- One-on-one help with Business Builder grant applications and similar requests.
- Coordinating collaboration and communication among entities and businesses in the added value food supply chain.
- Helping with the development and implementation of regional and state action plans.
Business Builder Grants
- To strengthen and support food businesses, particularly to increase access to local and regional markets. To be eligible, the business activity must be post-harvest.
- $200,000 available annually in North Dakota from 2024-2028.
- Up to $50,000 per business.
- No matching funds required.
- In 2025, the application period is to open March 1 with a deadline of April 30. Application information will be posted here.
- An announcement of awardees is expected in June.
- Project implementation is expected to be within 2 years of award.
- Eligible applicants include growers, producers, aggregators, distributors, and food access points such as food co-ops, farmers markets.
- For-profit private sector and non-profit organizations that are small to mid-sized food value chain participants are encouraged to apply.
- In 2024, grants could support staff time; business planning; software implementation; equipment purchases for food safety, processing or packaging; value chain or supply chain coordination and innovation; product development, and marketing.
View an April 2024 Q&A session here.
To learn more about the North Central USDA Regional Food Business Center, visit northcentrarfbc.org.