Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA AMS TM MGFSP G 26 0009
The Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP) is a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) grant opportunity designed to help certain state, territorial, and insular-area agricultural agencies expand both the quantity and the quality of locally produced food in communities facing food insecurity. The core approach is that the eligible state or territorial department of agriculture (or equivalent agency) applies to USDA and, if funded, then runs a competitive process to distribute smaller subawards (micro-grants) to eligible local entities. These subawards are intended to support practical, small-scale food production efforts such as gardening projects, herding, and livestock operations, with an emphasis on improving local access to nutritious foods where the need is greatest.
A major theme embedded in the program is resilience and long-term sustainability. USDA frames this program within broader priorities around climate-resilient landscapes and stronger rural economic systems. As a result, AMS encourages applicants to build climate-related goals into project design and delivery when it makes sense for their context. That can include activities aimed at reducing or stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions (for example, through practices that improve soil health or reduce inputs) and/or adapting to climate change impacts that are already occurring (such as heat, drought, extreme rainfall, or other disruptions that affect local production and supply). The climate language is presented as an encouragement for planning and implementation rather than as the sole purpose of the program, which remains focused on food security through local production.
Eligibility is limited to agricultural agencies or departments in a specific set of locations: Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. In this context, a state department of agriculture is defined broadly as the official government agency, commission, or department responsible for agriculture in that state, territory, or insular area. The opportunity is categorized as a mandatory grant, with the listed eligible applicant type primarily being state governments (and an "others" category also appearing in the source data, though the narrative eligibility description emphasizes agricultural agencies or departments in the listed jurisdictions).
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity title "Micro-Grants for Food Security Program" and opportunity number USDA AMS TM MGFSP G 26 0009, under CFDA 10.179. The agency administering the opportunity is USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. The application closing date is listed as 2026-06-22. The award ceiling is $1,900,800, and USDA anticipates making about 10 awards. The overall structure implies that each award supports a jurisdiction-level program that then distributes micro-grants locally, making the state or territorial agriculture department the hub for getting funds out to on-the-ground projects that directly increase local food production in food insecure communities.Apply for USDA AMS TM MGFSP G 26 0009
- The Agricultural Marketing Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Micro-Grants for Food Security Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.179.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-22. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,900,800.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Others.
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Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP) FAQs
What is the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP)?
The Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP) is a USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) grant opportunity designed to help eligible state, territorial, and insular-area agricultural agencies expand both the quantity and the quality of locally produced food in communities facing food insecurity.
What is the main goal of MGFSP?
The main goal is to improve food security by increasing local food production and improving access to nutritious foods in communities where food insecurity is greatest. The program supports practical, small-scale production efforts that can directly strengthen local availability of food.
Who applies to USDA for this funding?
The eligible state or territorial department of agriculture (or equivalent official agricultural agency) applies to USDA AMS. If funded, that agency then runs a competitive process to distribute smaller subawards (micro-grants) to eligible local entities.
How does the funding flow from USDA to local projects?
USDA AMS makes an award to an eligible jurisdiction-level agricultural agency. That award supports a locally run, competitive subaward program in which the state/territorial/insular-area agency distributes micro-grants to eligible local entities to carry out on-the-ground food production projects.
What kinds of activities are micro-grants intended to support?
Micro-grants are intended to support practical, small-scale food production efforts. Examples mentioned include gardening projects, herding, and livestock operations, with an emphasis on increasing access to nutritious food in food insecure communities.
Is the program only for gardening projects?
No. While gardening is explicitly mentioned, the program also includes other small-scale production efforts such as herding and livestock operations. The common thread is that projects are meant to boost local food production and improve local access to nutritious foods.
What does USDA mean by focusing on "quantity and quality" of locally produced food?
Based on the program description, the focus is both on producing more local food (quantity) and improving the nutritional value or overall desirability/benefits of that food for communities experiencing food insecurity (quality), with local access to nutritious foods emphasized.
Is resilience or long-term sustainability part of the program?
Yes. Resilience and long-term sustainability are major themes in the program framing. USDA describes the opportunity within broader priorities related to climate-resilient landscapes and stronger rural economic systems.
Are climate-related activities required?
The climate language is described as an encouragement for planning and implementation rather than the sole purpose of the program. The program remains focused on food security through local production, while AMS encourages climate-related goals when they make sense for the applicant's context.
What types of climate-related goals does AMS encourage?
AMS encourages applicants to incorporate climate-related goals that either (1) reduce or stabilize greenhouse gas emissions (for example, practices that improve soil health or reduce inputs) and/or (2) support adaptation to climate change impacts already occurring (such as heat, drought, extreme rainfall, or other disruptions affecting local production and supply).
Which locations are eligible to apply as the primary applicant?
Eligibility is limited to agricultural agencies or departments in the following locations: Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
What does "state department of agriculture" mean for this program?
In this context, a state (or equivalent jurisdiction) department of agriculture is defined broadly as the official government agency, commission, or department responsible for agriculture in that state, territory, or insular area.
What is the listed eligible applicant type?
The opportunity is presented with eligible applicant type primarily being state governments. The source data also includes an "others" category, though the narrative eligibility description emphasizes agricultural agencies or departments in the listed jurisdictions.
Is this a mandatory grant opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as a mandatory grant.
What agency administers the MGFSP opportunity?
The administering agency is the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
What is the funding opportunity number?
The opportunity number is USDA AMS TM MGFSP G 26 0009.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 10.179.
When is the application closing date?
The application closing date is listed as 2026-06-22.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed as $1,900,800.
How many awards does USDA anticipate making?
USDA anticipates making about 10 awards.
Does a single USDA award fund multiple local projects?
Yes. The structure described indicates that each USDA award supports a jurisdiction-level program that then distributes micro-grants locally through a competitive process run by the funded agricultural agency.
Who runs the competitive process for micro-grants?
The competitive process for distributing micro-grants is run by the eligible state, territorial, or insular-area agricultural agency that receives the USDA award.
What is the emphasis for where projects should operate?
The emphasis is on communities facing food insecurity and on improving local access to nutritious foods where the need is greatest.
How does the program relate to rural economic systems?
USDA frames the program within broader priorities that include building stronger rural economic systems, alongside climate-resilient landscapes, while keeping the primary focus on food security through local production.
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