The purpose of the Iowa Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, by developing and improving markets for Iowa small farms and food businesses, investing in the development of Iowa local food processing, distribution and aggregation infrastructure and protecting fair prices, fair wages, and new and safe job opportunities.

The $420 million RFSI program was funded as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP). It provided funding to the agency, commission, or department responsible for agriculture within each State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  

Iowa was awarded $5,239,433.13

Iowa’s RFSI partners will work in partnership with USDA to make competitive subawards to support infrastructure in the middle of the supply chain for domestic food and farm businesses. In addition Iowa partners will use part of the funds to develop and strengthen supply chain coordination and targeted market development activities in Iowa.