Application Opening for Local Food Infrastructure Grants Program

Grant applications open November 2, 2026, on the Illinois Department of Agriculture website and close at noon on January 6, 2027. Pre-registration is open now and applicants must pre-register online, a process that takes two to four weeks.

Eligible Illinois residents who handle or plan to handle value-added agricultural products may apply. Funds must support infrastructure for processing, storage, aggregation, or distribution, including purchasing, leasing, renting, building, or installing related facilities and equipment.

These entities must meet one of the following criteria: ​

• Illinois farm with fewer than 50 employee
• Illinois cooperative with fewer than 50 employees
• Illinois slaughter and/or processing facility with fewer than 50 employees (facilities must be USDA or state licensed, or be a custom exempt slaughter and/or processing facility)
• Illinois food business with fewer than 50 employees
• Illinois food hub with fewer than 50 employees
• Illinois nonprofit organization
• Unit of local government in Illinois

For program details and application guidance, visit the Department’s website and Facebook page. Additional resources and a related podcast will be available on the Department’s website and social media in late October.

See Governor Pritzker’s Press Release at gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/gov-pritzker-announces-18-million-in-grant-funds-for-local-food-infrastructure-across-illinois