Northeast — Farm Credit East 2027 Food Access Infrastructure Initiative (Up to $50,000)

FundingUp to $50,000 per individual nonprofit recipient. No overall 2027 program pool or guaranteed award count published.

DeadlineNovember 10, 2026, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST); application portal opened September 1, 2026.

Last verified2026-10-25

Required next actionVerify nonprofit eligibility, project location and capital food-access infrastructure purpose; review https://www.farmcrediteast.com/en/about/community-support/Grants-and-Awards/Food-Access-Infrastructure-Initiative-Grant and submit through https://farmcrediteast.smapply.us/prog/food_access_infrastructure_initiative_grant/ by 4:00 p.m. EST November 10, 2026. Out-of-region applicants must confirm eligibility with Stewardship@FarmCreditEast.com.

Nonprofit food banks, food hubs, food distribution and similar food-access infrastructure organizations in CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, RI and VT; out-of-region nonprofits potentially considered only for documented rural impact within Farm Credit East territory, subject to funder clarification.

Atlas Analysis

Official program guidelines and live SurveyMonkey Apply program page reviewed October 25, 2026. Real grant, not procurement. Applicant funding up to $50,000, deadline November 10 at 4 p.m. EST. Eligible capital food distribution infrastructure includes storage, logistics and building improvements; excludes vehicles, food production/processing equipment and operations. Funder site allows potentially out-of-territory projects benefiting rural territory while application portal says applicant must be inside territory; disclosure made in article. No obligatory matching percentage stated. Funding cycle specifically designated 2027.

2027 Food Access Infrastructure Initiative Grant

Farm Credit East is accepting applications for its 2027 Food Access Infrastructure Initiative, a real applicant-facing financial-assistance program supporting nonprofit food banks, food hubs and other charitable food distribution organizations improving food access in the Northeast. Applications opened September 1, 2026.

Applicant Funding and Deadline

Individual grants provide up to $50,000 per recipient. The controlling 2027 application deadline is November 10, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (EST). An overall 2027 funding pool or a guaranteed award count is not stated on the current program guidance. Grants are awarded at the selection committee’s discretion and paid directly to recipients; there is no stated universal matching-fund percentage or reimbursement requirement in the public guidance.

Eligibility and Geography

Recipients must be nonprofit organizations working to improve food security. Examples include food banks, food hubs and nonprofit food distribution or related infrastructure organizations. Farm Credit East primarily serves Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Its program guidelines say organizations outside these states may be considered where the project positively impacts rural areas within the region, but the application portal describes applicants as located inside the territory. Applicants based outside the eight states should confirm eligibility with the funder before applying. Self-nominations are permitted.

Allowable Projects and Restrictions

Funds must support capital improvements to food-access infrastructure, such as expanded cooler or freezer storage, improved produce-handling functionality, logistics, distribution capacity or eligible real-estate improvements. The program does not support vehicles, food-production or food-processing equipment, or general operating expenses. Farm Credit East and CoBank directors or employees must disclose their affiliation in supporting materials or the proposal will be ineligible. Exact proposal attachments and any further conditions should be confirmed through the live application form.

How to Apply

Read the official Farm Credit East program guidelines and apply through the official 2027 application portal by 4:00 p.m. EST on November 10, 2026. Have the organization’s nonprofit details, capital project description, project budget and planned impact on Northeast food access ready for submission; consult the portal for the required fields and uploads. Questions may be sent to Stewardship@FarmCreditEast.com.

Official sources: Funder eligibility and grant rules; 2027 application opening/deadline. Verified October 25, 2026.

Source verificationReferenced source · www.farmcrediteast.comAtlas last verified this record 2026-10-25. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗