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Applications for Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grants Now Open
Have a Great Idea to Strengthen Our Local Food System? Time to Apply
The state of Illinois' Local Food Infrastructure Grant (LFIG) program opened its applications today (November 2) for a share of a $1.8 million pool. Potential applicants include farms, food businesses, cooperatives, food hubs, nonprofits, local governments and other eligible entities to strengthen local and regional food supply chains.
Grant funds can support infrastructure and equipment for activities such as food processing, aggregation, storage, packaging, and distribution.
The legislation that initially authorized the LFIG program was enacted in 2023 and was one of the year's biggest legislative victories for Illinois Stewardship Alliance, the state's leading policy advocate for the local food and farm communities..
The program addresses one of the most crucial issues facing farmers in Illinois’ food system: a lack of critical infrastructure such as mills, food hubs, livestock processing facilities, refrigeration, trucking, and community kitchens to get food from their farms to the schools, institutions and communities that need it most.
There was a time when most food was local food, and communities in Illinois and across the U.S. bustled with facilities such as these. But over the course of the 20th century, improvements in rapid transportation, the rise of supermarket chains and broad-scale distributors, the centralization of food processing, and the increasing dominance of the “conventional” food system caused much of this local food infrastructure to wither.
Local food has been making a comeback at an accelerating pace throughout this 21st century, driven by rising consumer interest in food that is better for people and the planet and a growing community of farmers seeking to produce such food. But the gaps in local food infrastructure have hindered even more rapid growth. LFIG is an important commitment by the state government to fill those gaps.
The following is a breakdown of the application process by LaShawn Miller, Policy Organizer for Local Food & Farmers at Illinois Stewardship Alliance.
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The Illinois Department of Agriculture will open applications for the Local Food Infrastructure Grant (LFIG) on Monday, November 2, 2026.
There will be nearly $1.8 million available to support Illinois’ local food system.
If you're considering applying, now is the time to get ready. Some required registrations can take several weeks to complete, so starting early can help you avoid delays when applications open.
Applications close at noon on January 6, 2027.
What is the Local Food Infrastructure Grant?
LFIG provides funding for farms, food businesses, cooperatives, food hubs, nonprofits, local governments, and other eligible entities to strengthen local and regional food supply chains.
Grant funds can support infrastructure and equipment for activities such as food processing, aggregation, storage, packaging, and distribution.
This grant shows what we can accomplish when we work together.
Illinois Stewardship Alliance members, supporters, and allies helped win this new grant program in 2023. Since then, ISA members have protected state funding for LFIG each year.
That work has helped open the door for Illinois farms and food businesses to invest $5.5 million in the infrastructure to help grow their operations and connect more local food with the people and communities that need it.
When you join with farmers and allies to push for change, you can help turn shared priorities into real investments in our local food system.
Now, another round of funding is on the way!
Three steps to take
If you plan to apply, start by checking your status with these three systems:
1. Register with SAM.gov
SAM.gov is the federal government's registration system. New registrations and renewals can take time to process. For help, consult the SAM.gov registration tutorial.
2. Register and pre-qualify through the GATA Grantee Portal
Illinois requires grant applicants to complete applicable registration and pre-qualification steps through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) system. Check that your organization or business has an account and is in good standing.
3. Register with Amplifund
Amplifund is Illinois' online grant management system. If you don't already have an account, create one before applications open.
Already registered? Check that your information is current and that any required renewals are complete.
Who can apply?
Eligible applicants must be located in Illinois and engage in activities related to storing, processing, packaging, aggregating, or distributing value-added products.
Eligible entities may include farms, cooperatives, processing facilities, food businesses, food hubs, nonprofits, and local governments, subject to the current program guidelines.
LFIG has supported both collaborative and individual projects. In previous rounds, collaborative projects could request up to $250,000, while individual projects could request up to $75,000.
Review the current application guidelines to confirm award limits, matching requirements, and eligibility for the 2027 round.'
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