FY27 406-01-3252 Local Food Infrastructure Grant (LFIG)

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (the “Department” or “IDOA”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to provide grants through the Local Food and Infrastructure Grant Act [505 ILCS 92] and Administrative Code Title 8: Agriculture and Animals Chapter I: Department of Agriculture Subchapter m: Marketing Programs Part 340 Local Food Infrastructure Grant. The Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program was created to provide grants to support the development of local food processing, aggregation, and distribution throughout the State of Illinois. The Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program is part of an effort to support local food farmers, feed Illinois communities, enhance local food economies, generate economic growth for Illinois, and invest in supporting critical local food infrastructure needed to bolster processing, aggregation, and distribution of local food. Section 15(1) of the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Act authorizes the Department to make grants to Illinois resident individuals, groups, partnerships, or collaborations and shall include any one or more of the following entities that store, process, package, aggregate, or distribute value added agricultural products or plan to do so: Illinois farms with less than 50 employees; Illinois cooperatives with less than 50 employees; Illinois processing facilities with less than 50 employees; Illinois food businesses with less than 50 employees; Illinois food hubs with less than 50 employees; Illinois nonprofit organizations; and units of local government in Illinois. All grant funding provided under this Act must be used for purchasing, leasing to own, renting, building, or installing infrastructure related to the processing, storage, aggregation, or distribution of value-added agricultural products.

This grant program is utilizing state funds appropriated by Public Act 104-0464, Section 1485. Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is $1,800,000. Awards will range from $1,000 to $250,000.

https://agr.illinois.gov/assistance/illinoisfarmprograms/lfig/lfig-grantrequirements.html

Three types of assistance are available during the application process. 1) Technical Assistance: Provides targeted support for GATA questions, prequalification verification (DUNS/FEIN), SAM.gov status, Illinois Secretary of State standing, and Grantee Portal registration. Technical questions may be submitted via email at AGR.Grants@illinois.gov. The deadline for submitting technical questions is 12:00 PM (CST) on January 5, 2027. 2) Euna Grants Support Desk: Offers targeted assistance with the Euna Grants management software platform, including step-by-step instructions, user guides, training materials, videos, grantee information, and FAQs. Euna Grants Support: +1-844-407-3573 or https://il-amplifund.zendesk.com 3) LFIG Program Assistance: Provides targeted support for clarifying, interpreting, or resolving specific questions regarding program rules, processes, or requirements. Programmatic questions may be submitted via email at AGR.LFIG@illinois.gov. The deadline for submitting programmatic questions is 12:00 PM (CST) on December 28, 2026. Responses to substantive and nonrepetitive questions will be posted pursuant to the timeline listed below. Direct responses will not be provided for questions that are answered in the FAQ or Questions and Answers in Euna Grants. Questions may be paraphrased or edited in responses to reduce duplicative content and preserve personal and private information. Posted responses to questions are available at: • Local Food Infrastructure Grant (LFIG) - Frequently Asked Questions https://agr.illinois.gov/assistance/illinoisfarmprograms/lfig/lfig-faq.html • CSFA Notice of Funding Opportunity ‘Questions Submission Information’ section __________. All answers to programmatic questions meeting the stated criteria received by the submission deadline will be posted no later than January 1, 2027. No updates to questions or answers will be made after January 1, 2027.

An applicant for grant funding under this Act must be an Illinois resident. "Illinois Resident" means an entity that is registered to do business in Illinois and has its home-base of operations in Illinois as proven by a valid W-9. Eligible grant applicants shall include any one or more of the following entities that store, process, package, aggregate, or distribute value-added agricultural products or plan to do so: Illinois farms with less than 50 employees; Illinois cooperatives with less than 50 employees; Illinois processing facilities with less than 50 employees; Illinois food businesses with less than 50 employees; Illinois food hubs with less than 50 employees; Illinois nonprofit organizations; and units of local government in Illinois. NOTE: An entity must have a “Qualified” status in Euna Grants by the application review date, January 6, 2027. Applications will be disqualified and not reviewed if the applicant is not in “qualified” status on the application review date. Qualified status is re-verified nightly. If the entity's status changes, an email notice is sent to the designated representative with a link to the Grantee Portal. The entity must use the link for technical assistance to seek remediation. Please follow these steps before applying for IDOA administered grants. NOTE: Registration is required before an organization can apply for an award. Registration may take 2-4 weeks. You may complete this process at anytime to ensure you are ready to apply for your next opportunity. 1. Register in SAM.gov • SAM (System for Award Management) is a government-wide registry for vendors doing business with the Federal government. You must register your entity (you as an individual or your organization) to be able to bid on contracts or apply for federal assistance (e.g., grants, loans) from the federal government. Registration is Free. SAM registration requires annual renewal. 2. State law requires entities to register and pre-qualify online with GATA before applying for a state grant. Please verify that your organization/entity is in good standing with GATA and has an account on the GATA Grantee Portal. 3. Register on IL.amplifund.com using the same email address used for SAM.gov and GATA registration. • The LFIG application is located within the Euna Grants grants management software platform. All applications must be submitted using Euna Grants. PRE-QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS There are five grantee pre-qualification requirements: 1. Authentication 2. Grantee Registration 3. Grantee Pre-qualification 4. Fiscal and Administrative Risk Assessment (ICQ) 5. Programmatic Risk Assessment (This process is completed if applicant is moved to award.) These grantee pre-award requirements are mandated by Federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA). Grantees must complete these requirements prior to receiving a grant award from the State of Illinois. For technical assistance, please review the Grantee Portal Frequently Asked Questions, the attached GATA New User Guide (English and Spanish), and the GATA Grantee Access Quick Guide. For questions about pre-award requirements, contact AGR.Grants@Illinois.gov. 1. Authentication The Grantee Portal utilizes the Illinois.gov Authentication Portal. A personal or business email address is required to establish an account. Authentication verifies the relationship between an individual and the organization they represent. Authentication is performed once for each individual associated with a registration. To obtain an account click the “Create a new account” link below the “Sign in” button. For help with the Illinois.gov Authentication Portal please click the 'Can't access your account' link below the sign in button. 2. Grantee Registration All grantees must be registered with the State of Illinois. Grantee Registration is completed by browsing to https://grants.illinois.gov/portal and associating your Illinois.gov account with your organization. New accounts must enter the organization’s information on the Registration screen. Existing accounts must click the “Edit” button next to the organization name on the Main Menu. 3. Grantee Pre-qualification All entities must: A. Be qualified to do business with the State of Illinois. An entity is "qualified" to be an awardee if it: 1. has an active DUNS number or UEI, as applicable; 2. has an active SAM.gov public account; 3. is in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, if the Illinois Secretary of State requires the entity's organization type to be registered. Governmental entities, school districts and select religious organizations are not required to be registered with the Illinois Secretary of State. Refer to the Illinois Secretary of State Business Services website: https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/business_services/home.html; 4. is not on the Illinois Stop Payment List; 5. is not on the SAM.gov Exclusion List or the Federal Excluded Parties List; 6. is not on the Illinois Medicaid Sanctions List (https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/oig/Pages/SanctionsList.aspx). Upon registration, the Grantee Portal will list the status of each requirement. If a status is not "good", a link for technical assistance provides an explanation of how the issue can be corrected. The status of all requirements must be "good" for the entity to be qualified. “Qualified” status is required at the application review date. Applications will be disqualified and not reviewed if the applicant is not in “qualified” status. Qualified status is re-verified nightly. If the entity's status changes, an email notice is sent to the designated representative with a link to the Grantee Portal. The entity must use the link for technical assistance to seek remediation. If an entity is on the SAM.gov Exclusion List or in Permanent Stop Payment Status on the Illinois Stop Payment List, the entity is "Not Qualified". There is no remediation available. The State of Illinois cannot do business with entities on the SAM.gov Exclusion List or in Permanent Stop Payment Status on the Illinois Stop Payment List. If an entity is on the Illinois Stop Payment List, is not in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, is on the Illinois Medicaid Sanctions List, does not have an active DUNS number or UEI as applicable, or has an expired SAM.gov account, the entity has a temporary "Not Qualified" status, but can remediate. Technical assistance links through the Grantee Portal enable the entity to self-mediate the issue. B. Register on IL.amplifund.com. (This is the State of Illinois online grants management software platform now known as Euna Grants.) 4. Fiscal and Administrative Risk Assessment (ICQ) Entities must complete an Internal Controls Questionnaire (ICQ) as the Fiscal and Administrative Risk Assessment. The ICQ is completed once, annually. All state agencies will utilize the results of the ICQ. The entity can access the ICQ from the grantee portal. 5. Programmatic Risk Assessment (This process is completed if applicant is moved to award.) A Programmatic Risk Assessment is completed by the awarding agency based on the program and entity information. Programmatic Risk Assessment determine specific conditions in the grant agreement as necessary. AWARD REQUIREMENTS To be qualified for a grant award, an entity must: 1. have an active DUNS number or UEI, as applicable; 2. have an active SAM.gov public account; 3. be in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, if the Illinois Secretary of State requires the entity's organization type to be registered. Governmental entities, school districts and select religious organizations are not required to be registered with the Illinois Secretary of State. Refer to the Illinois Secretary of State Business Services website: https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/business_services/home.html; 4. not be on the Illinois Stop Payment List; 5. not be on the SAM.gov Exclusion List or the Federal Excluded Parties List; 6. not be on the Illinois Medicaid Sanctions List (https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/oig/Pages/SanctionsList.aspx). Qualified status is re-verified nightly. If the entity's status changes, an email notice is sent to the designated representative with a link to the Grantee Portal. The entity must use the link for technical assistance to seek remediation. If an entity is on the SAM.gov Exclusion List or in Permanent Stop Payment Status on the Illinois Stop Payment List, the entity is "Not Qualified". There is no remediation available. The State of Illinois cannot do business with entities on the SAM.gov Exclusion List or in Permanent Stop Payment Status on the Illinois Stop Payment List. If an entity is on the Illinois Stop Payment List, is not in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State, is on the Illinois Medicaid Sanctions List, does not have an active DUNS number or UEI as applicable, or has an expired SAM.gov account, the entity has a temporary "Not Qualified" status, but can remediate. Technical assistance links through the Grantee Portal enable the entity to self-mediate the issue. Resources: • State of Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) State Grantee Portal New User Guide https://gata.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/gata/documents/resource-library/gata-new-user-guide.pdf • See 44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.70 https://www.ilga.gov/agencies/JCAR/EntirePart?titlepart=04407000

Conflict of Interest Disclosure - must be signed by the authorized signatory before submission. Can be printed, signed (wet/digital), scanned, uploaded into Euna Grants. Mandatory Disclosure - must be signed by the authorized signatory before submission. Can be printed, signed (wet/digital), scanned, uploaded into Euna Grants.

For more information about Illinois Department of Agriculture Local Infrastructure Grant. Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Marketing, Promotion and Grants State Fairgrounds P.O. Box 19281 Springfield, IL 62794-9281 AGR.LFIG@Illinois.gov

Notice of State Award (NOSA) The NOSA will include the amount of funding for which the grant administrator has determined the project is eligible. It will specify the funding terms and conditions and specific conditions resulting from the pre-award risk assessments and merit-based review process. In order to receive a formal grant agreement, the NOSA must be accepted in Euna Grants by an authorized representative of the grantee organization. The NOSA is not an authorization to begin performance or incur costs.

The Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (30 ILCS 708/1 et seq.) (and its related administrative rules, 44 Ill. Admin. Code Part 7000), was enacted to increase the accountability and transparency in the use of grant funds from whatever source and to reduce administrative burdens on both State agencies and grantees by adopting federal guidance and regulations applicable to those grant funds; specifically, the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200).

Grantees funded through this NOFO are required to submit in the format required by the Grantor, at least on a quarterly basis, the Periodic Financial Report and Periodic Performance Report electronically. Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.328, Periodic Financial Reports shall be submitted no later than 30 calendar days following the period covered by the report. Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.329, Periodic Performance Reports shall be submitted no later than 30 calendar days following the period covered by the report. Any additional reporting requirements will be disclosed in the NOSA. Grantees are required within 60 calendar days following the end of the period of performance to submit a final closeout report in the format required by the Grantor (See 2 CFR 200.344; 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.440(b)).

For more information contact: Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Marketing, Promotion and Grants State Fairgrounds P.O. Box 19281 Springfield, IL 62794-9281 AGR.LFIG@Illinois.gov

Monitoring and Access to Information. Grantee must monitor its activities to assure compliance with applicable state and federal requirements and to assure its performance expectations are being achieved. Grantor will monitor the activities of Grantee to assure compliance with all requirements, including applicable programmatic rules, regulations, and guidelines that the Grantor promulgates or implements, and performance expectations of the Award. Grantee must timely submit all financial and performance reports, and must supply, upon Grantor’s request, documents and information relevant to the Award. Grantor may make site visits as warranted by Program needs. 2 CFR 200.329; 200.332. Audits. Grantee is subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 USC 7501-7507), Subpart F of 2 CFR Part 200, and the audit rules and policies set forth by the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget. 30 ILCS 708/65(c); 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.90. GRANT DISBURSEMENT-REIMBURSEMENT This grant operates on a reimbursement basis. Once a contract is fully executed, grant funds will be paid to recipients only after approved expenses have been incurred and paid for and receipt of required reporting. A reimbursement grant requires the grant recipient to spend their own funds first on project activities, such as supplies, equipment, or contracted services, then submit documentation to the granting agency to receive payment for those expenses. Reimbursement requests may be submitted monthly. REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION Grant recipients will be required to submit all supporting documentation related to the grant awarded funds and, if applicable, the 25% match for eligible costs. Required supporting documentation includes: • Proof of Payment: Bank statements or credit card statements showing the check/payment has cleared, with your bank and organization name visible and any non-grant-related information redacted, or submit copies of both the front and back of the canceled check. • Purchase of items and services: Signed purchase contracts, itemized bills or invoices, proof of delivery or service completion, and quotes or bids as required by contract amount. 8 Ill. Admin. Code 340.80 b) Grant Disbursements 1) Funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis. 2) Grantees must submit all requests for reimbursement prior to the end of the fiscal year in which they were awarded a grant (June 30) to facilitate the most efficient and streamlined payment processing. 3) Grantees that expect to continue to incur costs that are eligible for reimbursement after June 30 must notify grant administrator in writing, along with an explanation for the timing of these costs. 4) Grant administrator will make best efforts to process reimbursement requests prior to August 1 of the following fiscal year. Any reimbursement request submitted after August 1, or prior to August 1 but without sufficient time for grant administrator to process, are subject to additional delays and processes to receive payment. 5) If an awardee does not submit reimbursement requests for the entire amount they were awarded, the leftover amount will remain in the Fund and expended for the purposes of the Act. MERIT REVIEW APPEAL PROCESS In alignment with the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) and Federal Uniform Guidance, all Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) discretionary grants must use a merit review process for evaluating submitted grant applications, which must include a Merit Review Appeal Process. Merit Review Appeal Process For discretionary grants, only the evaluation process is subject to appeal. Evaluation scores or funding determinations/outcomes may not be contested and will not be considered by IDOA’s Appeals Review Officer (“ARO”). To submit an appeal, the appealing party must: • Submit the appeal in writing by email or mail at one of the following addresses: By email: AGR.Legal@illinois.gov By mail: Illinois Department of Agriculture 801 E. Sangamon Ave PO Box 19281 Springfield, IL 62794 Attn: Legal • Include in the appeal, the following: - The name and address of the appealing party; - An identification of the grant (i.e., CFSA number); - A statement of reason(s) for the appeal; and - Supporting documentation for the appeal. • Ensure the appeal is received within 14 calendar days from the date of publication of the grant award. The ARO will consider the grant-related appeals submitted to IDOA. • The ARO must review the submitted appeal for completeness and acknowledge receipt of the appeal within 14 calendar days from the date the appeal was received. • The ARO will consider the integrity of the competitive grant process and the impact of the recommendation on IDOA. • The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by IDOA within the time period set in the request. • The ARO shall respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required. A written determination shall be sent to the appealing party and must include: • Review of the appeal; • Appeal determination; and • Rationale for the determination. If an action concerning the appeal has commenced in a court or administrative body, the appeal resolution may be deferred pending a judicial or administrative determination.