By Andi Anderson
The Illinois Department of Agriculture has announced plans to distribute 3.6 million dollars in grant funding to support local food infrastructure across the state.
The announcement was made at the Everything Local conference in Springfield and the funding was approved in the fiscal year 2026 state budget.
The grants will focus on improving food processing aggregation storage and distribution. Collaborative projects may receive between 1,000 and 250,000 dollars while individual projects can receive between 1,000 and 75,000 dollars.
According to the department, this investment will help Illinois grown food reach consumers more efficiently.
“Strong agriculture depends on strong infrastructure,” said IDOA Director Jerry Costello II. “The Local Food Infrastructure Grant program gives Illinois farmers the processing, aggregation, and distribution capacity they need to ensure Illinois-grown food can reach consumers.”
Applications for the grants will open on February 18, 2026, through the Illinois Department of Agriculture website.
Eligible applicants include small Illinois farms, cooperatives, food businesses, food hubs, slaughter or processing facilities, nonprofits and local governments with fewer than 50 employees. Facilities involved in slaughter or processing must be properly licensed or custom exempt.
State leaders say the funding will benefit both farmers and families. “Everyone benefits when we empower our local farmers,” said State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield), Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “By fortifying the food system, we are supporting our local farmers and mitigating food insecurity. This funding will expand access to fresh, local foods, strengthen the local economy and grow the food supply chain.”
State Senator David Koehler (D-Peoria) added “When we say farm-to-home food, we forget about the critical infrastructure in between This investment ensures that our food makes it from farm to local food processor and distribution safely and cleanly to your plates at home.”
State Representative Sonya Harper (D-Chicago) emphasized affordability and access saying, “With food prices rising across Illinois, investing in local food infrastructure is no longer optional it’s essential,” and noted the program supports shorter supply chains and stronger communities.
Grant funds must be used for infrastructure related to processing storage aggregation or distribution. Applicants are encouraged to pre-register with SAM.gov and the GATA Grantee Portal to prepare for the application process.
Photo Credit: illinois-department-of-agriculture
Categories: Illinois, Government & Policy