The Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) programs is a federal cooperative agreement awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to state departments of agriculture to build resilience across the middle-of-the-supply-chain and strengthen local and regional food systems, supporting the development of value-added products for consumers, fair prices, fair wages and new job opportunities.
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) awarded 15 grants designed to support producers and farm businesses in obtaining equipment or developing their middle of the supply chain infrastructure. These 15 projects will improve NE’s local food system by way of increased distribution options, processing and storage. Applications for funding are currently closed. To view summaries of the funded projects, click the dropdown below.
Expanding opportunities in Nebraska's regional food system
Participating in RFSI Supply Chain Coordination efforts can open up new opportunities for producers and food businesses to grow markets and improve operational efficiencies. Technical assistance is available to Nebraska producers and food businesses to help with navigating supply chain challenges, and enhanced networking with processors, distributors, and other food system partners. Nebraska has two supply chain coordinators ready to help build relationships and improve systems-level planning, which can be especially valuable for direct market growers and producers looking into value added products. Coordinated supply chain efforts will also help producers and food businesses find new local markets creating new pathways for Nebraska-grown foods to reach consumers.
Attend our Farmer Coffee Events hosted by Riley Reinke:
- Saturday, March 14th in Hastings at Back Alley Backery
- Saturday, March 21st in Beatrice at Kala's
- Saturday, March 28th in Norfolk at the Madison County Extension Office
Contact Riley Reinke at riley.reinke@nebraska.gov or 402-430-4057 to sign up or have any additional questions.
"Strengthening Local Food Market" workshops will be hosted by Ben Dutton in September and October. More info about these workshops will be coming soon.
RFSI Conference will be on December 9, 2026.
The goal of these events is to connect Nebraska food producers and food buyers. These event are held statewide.
Holle Evert
Nebraska Department of Agriculture
PO Box 94947
Lincoln, NE 68509
402-310-8354
holle.evert@nebraska.gov
Ben Dutton – Western NE Supply Chain Coordination
ben.dutton@unl.edu
(308) 532-2683
Riley Reinke – Eastern NE Supply Chain Coordination
riley.reinke@nebraska.gov
(402) 430-4057
Infrastructure Grants
Food Sustainability Hub and Spoke Model: A sustainable food Hub for a tribal Ho-Chunk community
Winnebago
Tribal community kitchen expansion and modernization that will enhance food processing capabilities for tribal farmers and food businesses.
Nebraska Wine Grape and Fruit Processing and Production Expansion and Aggregation
Central City
Developing a licensed and bonded custom crush facility to meet the growing needs of Nebraska's grape and fruit growers.
Grand Republic Milling Company - Connecting Farmers to Consumers through Regional Grain Milling
Scottsbluff
Constructing a cereal grain processing center creating a regional, value-added marketplace for wheat, barley, oats and other grains for human consumption. Veteran-owned.
Regenerative Food Products - Ingredient Processing Facility to Value Add to Regionally Raised Specialty Crops
Venango
Establishing a cutting-edge facility to process and package specialty crop grains and pulses used in consumer packaged goods.
HarvestHub: A Shared Vegetable Wash, Pack and Processing Center in Urban Omaha
Omaha
Constructing a shared-use wash, pack, processing, and storage facility that provides urban growers a food-safe indoor place to process, aggregate and distribute locally grown produce.
Free Day Popcorn Company - Infrastructure Expansion Project
Byron
Infrastructure expansion will increase food grade packaging equipment and distribution services available to local grain producers growing grains for human consumption.
Robinette Farms: Expanding Local Food Aggregation and Distribution in Eastern Nebraska
Martell
Modernizing equipment and facilities will expand the capacity to process, pack, aggregate, and distribute locally grown foods.
Equipment-Only Grants
Omaha Sunflower Cooperative Foundations of Food Sovereignty in East Omaha Neighborhood
Omaha
Creating a network of neighborhood food hubs to provide urban growers equipment for processing, storage, and distribution.
Growing Resiliency: A Project to Increase Middle-Chain Processing and Access to Local Food in Lincoln
Lincoln
Purchasing equipment to increase access to healthy foods in institutional settings by improving processing, aggregation, storage and creation of new value-added products.
Community Crops Program Collaborates for Improved Market Access of Underserved Farmers in Lincoln, NE.
Lincoln
Providing beginning and underserved farmers equipment access to process, store, and distribute locally grown foods.
Whispering Roots Community Food Hub Commercial Kitchen Expansion Project
Omaha
Expanding commercial kitchen through purchase of equipment to support aggregation, processing, distribution, and value-added production of locally produced, healthy food for low-income, vulnerable families.
Mobile specialty grain processing equipment for south central Nebraska
Henderson
Purchasing equipment to construct a mobile dehulling and debearding unit to service small scale growers of specialty crop grains such as Kernza (R), barley, spelt, and buckwheat.
Shadow Brook Farm's Dutch Girl Creamery Increases Opportunities for middle of food chain with increased storage
Lincoln
Increasing processing and storage capacity to create value-added dairy products, cheese, and ice cream.
Cold Storage to facilitate growth of Farm to School program
Hyannis
Purchasing freezer and refrigerator to increase students access to locally grown foods through growth in Farm to School program.
Fresh Local Vegetable Distribution to Hispanic Markets via Refrigerated Trucks
Columbus
Refrigerated transport truck which will serve to distribute fresh, locally grown vegetables to Hispanic markets and store fronts in eastern Nebraska. This project will expand connections between local producers and local Hispanic markets.