Gov. Pritzker Announces $1.8 Million in Grant Funds for Local Food Infrastructure Across Illinois

[Viable Food News Desk]

Publisher: State of Illinois
Published: October 8, 2026
Source: Read at State of Illinois
Category: Food Access

Illinois announced $1.8 million in available funding for the Local Food Infrastructure Grants program. The state has distributed nearly $4 million through the program since its establishment in 2025. The new grants will range from $1,000 to $250,000 for collaborative projects and from $1,000 to $75,000 for individual projects, covering infrastructure for processing, storage, aggregation, and distribution of value-added agricultural products. Applications open November 2, 2026, and close at noon on January 6, 2027, through the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Why this matters: Eligible independent grocers, producers, processors, and nonprofit organizations could use the grants for infrastructure such as refrigeration, storage, community kitchens, and distribution. That could expand local sourcing and food access in Illinois communities.

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