Public comments open on Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant program

News

Public comments open on Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant program

The deputy director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture says a state program that assists farmers with upgrading necessary equipment is gearing up for its second year.

Kristi Jones tells Brownfield the $2 million Local Food Infrastructure Grant (LFIG) program is currently in the rules making process.

“Our rules were posted through the administrative rule process last Friday.”  She says, “Those rules have a 45-day public comment period.”

AUDIO: Kristi Jones – Illinois Department of Agriculture

Nathan Ryder, farmer and communications coordinator with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, says the program’s first year brought meaningful investments to nineteen farms across the state.

“Equipment purchases for processing, refrigeration, transportation, food hubs, community kitchens, you know, other infrastructure to strengthen our local food system,” he says.

Ryder says demand far exceeded the allotted funding, so he expects this year’s application process to again be competitive.

“We had over 225 farms that had applied and had requested nearly $23 million in need, so it’s a huge need to allow us to be able to move local food product into our local communities,” he says.

Jones says LFIG applications are expected to be available later this year.  Ryder says ISA and other groups are currently lobbying lawmakers to extend the program.

Brownfield spoke with Jones at the 2025 Illinois Ag Legislative Day.

AUDIO: Nathan Ryder – Illinois Stewardship Alliance