Grant Funding Opportunities

Grant Applications Currently CLOSED!

The Rio Grande Colonias Center released two different grant tracks in Spring of 2025, the Business Builder Farm and Food Grant and the Frontera Farm and Food Business Grant. These programs are meant to support eligible small and mid-sized farmers and food businesses in Texas and New Mexico with the capital they need to grow their businesses and access larger markets. Grants can only be used for eligible post-harvest projects and expenses. Read more information about each program below.

Frontera Farm and Food Business Grant:

• Intake Form Submission: CLOSED as of May 2, 2025
• Current eligible clients who submitted their intake by May 2, 2025, have until June 30, 2025, to submit their project proposal after completing all required technical assistance.
  • Submitting an Intake Form is required in order to determine an applicant’s eligibility and, if eligible, assign them to a Center Business Development Coordinator (BDC). BDCs help clients navigate required technical assistance and ensure they are ready for the application process.
• While the Intake Form for this program is currently closed, the Center anticipates re-opening it in Fall 2025.
• About the Grant:
  • Business must operate within the Center’s 38 Priority Counties in Texas and New Mexico, which include Colonias in both states. See graphic below for full list of eligible counties.
  • Non-competitive application process: Completing technical assistance and meeting other outlined requirements will factor into eligibility for grant funding toward a specific post-harvest project or business need.
  • Eligible applicants will receive focused technical assistance and coordination support from one of our Center’s Business Development Coordinators who can guide them through technical assistance resources and the application process.
  • Zero or more years in business
  • Gross revenue caps of $500,000 for food producers and $5,000,000 for food businesses.
  • Awards of up to $50,000

Business Builder Farm and Food Grant:

• Intent to Apply: CLOSED as of April 3, 2025
• Application Submission: CLOSED as of May 2, 2025
• The Center aims to open the next funding cycle of this program in early 2026.
• Grant Highlights:
  • Intended to serve small and mid-sized farm and food businesses across Texas and New Mexico, with the exception of 53 counties in East Texas, which are being served by the Delta USDA Regional Food Business Center through separate funding. Scroll down to the next section to learn more about the Delta Center.
  • Grants can support items such as staff time, business planning activities, software implementation, value chain coordination, the purchase of special purpose equipment, such as food safety, processing and packaging equipment, and other allowable expenses.
• For more information about the Business Builder Farm and Food Grant, click the link below!

About the Delta USDA Regional Food Business Center

Texas is fortunate to have the support of two USDA Regional Food Business Centers, the Rio Grande Colonias Center and the Delta Center. If your farm or food business is located in one of the counties listed below and you would like to apply for funding from the Delta USDA Regional Food Business Center, please fill out the Texas Center for Local Food (TCLF) newsletter form: https://texaslocalfood.org/delta-rfbc/. TCLF is leading the Eastern Texas Team for the Delta Center.