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Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant (LFIG)
Industry-Specific · Illinois Department of Agriculture · IL
The Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant is a state cash grant from the Illinois Department of Agriculture that helps Illinois farms, food businesses, and food hubs with 50 or fewer employees fund infrastructure for local food processing and distribution, offering up to $75,000 for individual projects or $250,000 for collaborative ones.
The Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant (LFIG) is a state grant program run by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. It funds the purchase, lease-to-own, rental, construction, or installation of infrastructure that helps scale up local food processing, aggregation, and distribution across Illinois. This can benefit small farms and food businesses that need equipment, storage, or facility upgrades to grow their local food operations.
Awards are cash grants, meaning recipients do not repay the funds. Individual projects can receive up to $75,000, while collaborative projects involving multiple partners can receive up to $250,000. In FY2026, the program offered roughly $3.6 million total across awarded projects, though this figure and future funding levels should be confirmed at the official state site since program funding can vary year to year.
Eligible applicants include Illinois-based farms, cooperatives, food businesses, processing facilities, and food hubs with 50 or fewer employees. This makes LFIG a potentially useful funding source for small-scale food producers and local food supply chain businesses looking to expand infrastructure without taking on debt.
The deadline for the current round is not fixed in this listing — applicants should check the Illinois Department of Agriculture's website for current application windows, as the program runs in rounds rather than on a continuous basis. Because grant program details, funding pools, and eligibility rules can change from year to year, anyone considering applying should visit the official LFIG page to confirm the latest award amounts, open application periods, and specific eligibility requirements before beginning the application process.
Who qualifies
How to apply
Questions people ask
Is this a grant or a loan?
It is a cash grant, not a loan.
Do I have to repay the funds?
No, grant funds generally do not need to be repaid.
Who is eligible?
Illinois-based farms, cooperatives, food businesses, processing facilities, and food hubs with 50 or fewer employees.
How much money can I get?
Up to $75,000 for an individual project or up to $250,000 for a collaborative project.
What is the total funding available?
FY2026 offered roughly $3.6 million, but this should be confirmed at the official site for current rounds.
What can the funds be used for?
Purchase, lease-to-own, rental, construction, or installation of infrastructure that scales up local food processing, aggregation, and distribution.
When is the deadline?
Check current rounds on the official site; no fixed deadline is listed here.
Where do I apply?
At the Illinois Department of Agriculture's LFIG page, linked in this listing.
Who runs this program?
The Illinois Department of Agriculture.
Is this available outside Illinois?
No, it is limited to Illinois-based applicants.
Is the grant taxable?
Confirm at the source, as this is not specified in the listing.
Can collaborative projects apply?
Yes, collaborative projects are eligible for up to $250,000.
Are large businesses eligible?
No, eligibility is limited to businesses with 50 or fewer employees.
Is there an application deadline each year?
The program runs in rounds; confirm current deadlines at the official site.
Opportunity number: not published. Source: curated + verified (official state source, 2026). GetFundedUSA is independent and not affiliated with Illinois Department of Agriculture; always confirm current deadlines, amounts and eligibility on the sponsor's own page before applying.