RSFI 2026 Program Specific Questions.pdf

This document is a Program Specific Questions file for the New York State Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program 2026 Round 4 (RFP #0423), administered through the Statewide Financial System. The RFP solicits applications from eligible applicants within four designated regions: Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, and Capital Region. The program seeks to fund capital projects for the construction, renovation, or establishment of regional food infrastructure facilities—including aggregation centers, storage hubs, and commissary-type kitchens—that will prepare and distribute meals featuring New York State farm products to K-12 schools across multiple school districts. Applicants must address a comprehensive business plan template worth 50 points, covering introduction, region/market analysis, team and beneficiary schools, farm partners, implementation timeline, and financial summary, along with demonstration of reasonableness of cost, quantification of project benefits, and documentation of outside support from schools, districts, farmers, and project partners through commitment letters.

The application requires a total project budget of $5,000,000 with detailed budget breakdowns and cost justification. Applicants must provide baseline and projected increases in the number of farmers, producers, distributors, and food hubs supplying New York State farm products to schools, as well as quantifiable benefits related to community use, workforce development, and training in culinary arts, food processing, safe food handling, logistics, and delivery. Grant funds are intended exclusively for capital projects and permanent facility improvements, not operational expenses. The program aims to reduce food insecurity, increase market opportunities for New York State producers, strengthen the state's food system resiliency, and support workforce development across eligible regions.