Harvest to Market Grants Open for Missouri and Kansas Food Businesses

Food and farm businesses across parts of western Missouri and rural Kansas have an opportunity to apply for funding aimed at expanding local food systems and strengthening rural economies.

The Harvest to Market grant program is now accepting applications through Aug. 31, offering awards ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. No matching funds are required, and approved projects will have six months to use the funding. Award announcements are expected in mid November.

According to University of Missouri Extension Senior Project Coordinator Bill McKelvey, the program is designed to help food businesses increase their ability to serve local and regional markets.

Funding priority will be given to projects that improve food processing capacity, distribution equipment, transportation and logistics, and marketing efforts that connect producers with more customers.

Eligible Missouri applicants must be located in one of the following counties: Andrew, Atchison, Bates, Benton, Caldwell, Carroll, Clinton, DeKalb, Daviess, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Holt, Lafayette, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Pettis, Ray, St. Clair, Saline, Vernon or Worth.

Businesses that may qualify include farms and ranches, food retailers, value added processors, food cooperatives, food hubs, aggregation and distribution businesses, and tribal food and farm enterprises. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible.

Grant dollars may be used for projects such as developing websites and online stores, marketing campaigns, packaging improvements, equipment purchases, building renovations, construction, feasibility studies, employee project costs, and meat processing after slaughter and initial processing.

Applications that involve multiple farms or food businesses working together to market or distribute products will receive additional consideration.

The Harvest to Market program is part of the Heartland Food Business Coalition, a regional effort that supports locally produced food while creating new opportunities for farmers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs across Missouri and Kansas.