Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program

Related Resources

Connecticut’s agriculture industry, including producers, food businesses, and non-profits sourcing CT Grown farm products, can now access new one-on-one business technical assistance and grant coaching. Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) is utilizing funds available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Resilient Food System Infrastructure Grant Program (RFSI) to contract with three separate entities to provide an array of services, including but not limited to, market diversification and development, supply chain coordination, and business and financial planning. 

The three entities are the CT Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Carrot Project, and New England Farmers of Color Land Trust (NEFOC). Each will have specific areas of assistance for program participants as follows:

 

CT Small Business Development Center 

  • Business advising and planning
  • Grant writing assistance prior to application submissions, focused on DoAg programs
  • Supporting farm/food system businesses more broadly by providing access to all appropriate CTSBDC services, including:
    • Advising in business and product strategy, access to financing, financial management, accessing markets and customers, and other areas as needed
    • Providing in-depth assistance to those who are more specifically looking for assistance on the market side of their business (i.e. getting into new markets, creating value added products, assisting producers with a marketing strategy, etc.)
    • Leveraging CTSBDC’s proprietary and licensed business management tools and databases
    • Assisting clients in strategies to diversify their products and market outlets
    • Providing access to CTSBDC’s Business Financial Literacy and Credit Counselling and Immigrant Entrepreneur Assistance programs

To get started, complete the CT SBDC intake form.

 

Carrot Project

  • Access to capital, grant and loan readiness
  • 1:1 business technical assistance, training and resource to improve business decision-making and strengthen financial positions 

 To get started, email jcole@thecarrotproject.org

 

Northeast Farmers of Color Land Trust

  • Supporting BIPOC producers and agricultural organizations who seek holistic technical assistance

To get started, email gaby@nefoclandtrust.org

 

Agricultural producers or agribusinesses interested in working with any of the above organizations are welcome to contact them directly or reach out to Cyrena.Thibodeau@ct.gov, 860-895-3094.