USDA Partners with American Samoa to Award Over $2 Million to Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2024 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has a cooperative agreement with American Samoa under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and the American Samoa Department of Agriculture are working together to offer over $2 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. The American Samoa Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for this Infrastructure Grant funding beginning Dec. 30, 2024, through Feb. 15, 2025.

In May 2023, USDA announced the availability of up to $420 million through RFSI to strengthen local and regional food systems. Through this program, AMS has entered into cooperative agreements with state agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood, or food system and distribution activities or commerce activities in states or U.S. territories. RFSI is authorized by the American Rescue Plan. Updates for each state's Request for Applications for the RFSI program are available on the AMS website.

"This partnership between USDA and the American Samoa is allowing critical funding to reach areas of the supply chain that need it most," said USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt. "The projects funded through this program will create new opportunities for the region's small and midsize producers to thrive, expand access to nutritious food options, and increase supply chain resiliency."

Using RFSI funding, the American Samoa Department of Agriculture will fund projects that purchase specialized equipment, expand processing capacities, increase production volumes, support new wholesale/retail product lines, and increase storage space, including cold storage. These funding priorities were identified through collaborative meetings with the local agricultural community and the American Samoa Department and will help local farmers and producers sustain their middle of the supply chain operations and promote new opportunities.

Those interested in receiving a subaward should apply directly through the American Samoa Department of Agriculture beginning Dec. 30, 2024, through Feb. 15, 2024. To receive an application, contact Sinafoa Tavai, Deputy Director, at [email protected] or by phone at (684) 699-9272 ext.: 1115. AMS encourages applications that serve smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and underserved communities.

For more information, visit the AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure webpage.

AMS administers programs that create domestic and international marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, fiber, and specialty crops. AMS also provides the agriculture industry with valuable services to ensure the quality and availability of wholesome food for consumers across the country and globally. AMS services and its significant grant investments create opportunities by supporting American farmers, ranchers and businesses across the supply chain, and drive economic development in small towns and rural communities.

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