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IL “Local Food Infrastructure Grants” renewed

The deputy director of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance says the state’s Local Food Infrastructure Grant program will see a second year in 2025.

Molly Pickering tells Brownfield…

“Another 2 million dollars will go to helping fund projects like canneries, mills, food hubs, community kitchens,” she says.

She says the program addresses food access issues in both rural and urban areas.

“All these really critical pieces of infrastructure that we need to help move food from farms in Illinois to communities in Illinois,” she says, “but that just don’t exist here anymore.”

Pickering says the grants also have a regional economic impact.

“Ninety five percent of the food we eat is imported from out of state or out of country.”  She says, “So that means that $0.95 of every dollar that you spend on food does not stay here in Illinois.”

Applications for the 2025 Local Food Infrastructure Grants are expected to open later this year.