USDA Regional Food Business Centers — USDA AMS

Twelve regional centers offering free coaching on market access, food safety, financing, and business planning — plus 'Business Builder' subawards for small producers ready to scale.

Typical award: Free technical assistance; Business Builder subawards commonly up to $100,000
Deadline: TA is continuous; subaward windows vary by region
Type of support: Technical assistance · Business & value-added products
Who can apply: Individual producer, Non-profit, Tribal, Beginning / underserved
Fits these operations: Vegetables & produce, Orchard & fruit, Mixed / diversified, Value-added & food business, Urban farm

The eligibility and application details below are general guidance for this kind of program, not text copied from the funder. The facts above — who runs it, how much, and when it closes — are hand-checked. Always confirm specifics on the official page.

Am I eligible?

Open nationwide — check for state-level ranking or set-asides
Individual farmers, ranchers, and farm businesses may apply
Non-profits, co-ops, and community organizations may apply
Tribes, tribal producers, and tribal enterprises are eligible
Beginning, veteran, and historically underserved producers are prioritized
Active SAM.gov registration and UEI number required before award
Must be in compliance with USDA/federal program rules (AGI limits, conservation compliance)
No cost to the producer in most cases — advising, not funding

How to apply

1Contact USDA AMS through the official page and describe your operation
2Schedule an intake call or farm visit
3Agree on a scope of work — what questions you need answered
4Work through the recommendations and follow up as your season changes

What you'll need

Farm or business name, address, and tax ID / EIN
Short description of your operation and acreage
The specific question or bottleneck you want help with
Any existing records, maps, or plans that give context

Timeline & contact

Usually days to a few weeks from first contact to real help

Get help: USDA AMS — your local USDA Service Center or state office can walk you through it

Ready to apply?

Applications go through USDA AMS, not through this site. Open the official page below for eligibility rules, forms, and contacts. For federal programs it's worth calling your local USDA Service Center or Cooperative Extension office first — they help with paperwork for free and know what your county actually funds.

Open official page

This listing was last hand-checked August 2026.

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