The USDA has officially terminated the Regional Food Business Center (RFBC) program, including the Delta RFBC, effective September 15, 2025. As a result of this termination, the Business Builder Subaward Grant Program will also be discontinued and no awards will be made.
We are deeply grateful for the interest, support, and collaboration shown by our partners, participants, and communities across Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, and East Texas. Thank you for believing in the vision of a stronger, more connected food and farm economy in our region.
Texas Center for Local Food is proud to serve as the Eastern Texas state lead for the USDA Delta Regional Food Business Center (RFBC).
We are dedicated to enhancing the resilience, diversity, and competitiveness of the food system in Eastern Texas.
Our focus is on providing targeted support to food and farm businesses in East Texas through:
- Coordination: We strengthen networks across the Delta region, especially in East Texas, through outreach, events, and communication support.
- Technical Assistance: We provide tailored business support and value chain coordination for small- and mid-sized food and farm businesses.
- Capacity Building: We offer Business Builder Subawards ($10,000 to $100,000) to fund planning, equipment, and staffing for post-harvest activities for regional business growth.
Business Builder Grants
Please note: The Delta RFBC Business Builder grants are currently on hold pending a review by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. Pending Secretary Rollin’s review, our first round of applications will open in Summer 2025.
Farm and food businesses that operate or sell in certain eastern counties are eligible to apply for Builder Subawards ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 to help with:
- Business planning and development activities,
- Food safety, processing, and packaging equipment,
- Software implementation,
- Value chain coordination,
- And other post-production activities.
This comprehensive application guide is here to support you every step of the way
Prepare now
Secure your Unique Entity ID through SAM.gov and check out our UEI Guide if you need support! You’ll need this ID to apply for funding.
To better understand the application, review the USDA AMS Program Specific Terms & Conditions and USDA AMS General Terms & Conditions
Service Area
Food businesses that serve the following counties are eligible to apply for the Delta RFBC Business Builder applications: Austin, Anderson, Angelina, Bastrop, Bell, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Caldwell, Chambers, Cherokee, Colorado, Falls, Fayette, Fort Bend, Freestone, Galveston, Gonzales, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Hill, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, Matagorda, McLennan, Milam, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Polk, Robertson, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington, Wharton, Williamson.
Submitting an application to more than one Regional Food Business Center is prohibited.
Request Technical Assistance
Let us know how we can help support your farm!
We’ll follow up shortly to discuss next steps.
Our Farm Business Services team is small but mighty! We will do our best to provide high quality 1-on-1 support to everyone who contacts us.
Beyond Fresh Program
As part of our efforts to support Eastern Texas food and farm businesses, we are excited to offer the Beyond Fresh Program.
This program is designed to help participants develop new revenue streams and reduce food waste by creating value-added products through a comprehensive 10-week technical assistance track.
Bonus Points Opportunity
Businesses serving the Eastern Texas service area that complete the Beyond Fresh Program will earn bonus points on their Business Builder grant application.
This incentive rewards participants for their dedication to improving business operations through a structured, cohort-based curriculum and technical assistance track.
Take advantage of this opportunity to gain a competitive edge and strengthen your business.
Technical Assistance to Support Your Local Food Business
We are proud to be able to provide a local food directory to connect farmers, food producers, and buyers, making it easier to source and sell locally.
This resource helps strengthen regional food networks and grow your business.
Get Updates!
Subscribe to our Farm Business Newsletter to stay informed about the Delta Regional Food Business Center and other news from the Texas Center for Local Food.
Support for the Delta USDA Regional Food Business Center comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service Regional Food Business Centers Program.
The 12 USDA Regional Food Business Centers support all 50 U.S. States and Territories and are inclusive of all types of agricultural products produced locally or regionally.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. For information, refer to the USDA Non-Discrimination Statement.