IDOA awards Local Food Infrastruture Grants

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced the award recipients of the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program, distributing nearly $4 million in fiscal year 2026 funding to support the continued expansion of Illinois’ local food system.

“Illinois continues to make critical investments that support the local farmers and food businesses that feed our state,” said Gov. JB Pritzker.

“Illinoisans deserve fresh, nourishing food that was grown close to home, and these grants will help producers statewide expand access to locally grown products in their own communities.”

The LFIG Program was created to strengthen the capacity of Illinois producers and food businesses to store, process, package, aggregate and distribute locally grown products.

Funding supports essential investments that help move Illinois-grown food from farm to consumer while building long-term resilience within the state’s food supply chain.

The fiscal year 2026 budget allocated funds for both collaborative and individual projects. Selected grantees represent a diverse group of farms, cooperatives, nonprofits, food hubs, local governments, and food businesses, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 for collaborative projects and $1,000 to $75,000 for individual applicants.

LFIG funds of $2 million were appropriated in the fiscal year 2027 budget passed by the Illinois General Assembly. The grant dollars currently being distributed reflect two years’ worth of funding, combining appropriations of $2 million each from fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

“The Local Food Infrastructure Grant reflects our commitment to supporting Illinois agriculture,” said IDOA Director Jerry Costello II.

“These awards will help farmers, food businesses and community partners expand their capacity and reach new markets. When we invest in local food infrastructure, we are creating economic opportunity for businesses while ensuring Illinois residents have greater access to fresh, locally grown foods.”

“These investments are a win for Illinois farmers, food producers and families who help keep our state nourished,” said state Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, chief Senate sponsor.

“When we strengthen local food infrastructure, we help fresh food reach more communities while creating new opportunities for the people who grow and produce it.”

“Illinois’ agriculture is the backbone of our state, and it’s essential that we continue our commitment to strong investments into our local farms,” said state Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, Senate Agriculture Committee chair.

“From expanding food businesses to helping farmers, this funding will allow the agriculture industry to continue to grow.”

“For too long, many of Illinois’ small farmers and local food businesses had the passion and the products, but lacked the infrastructure to grow. This investment helps close that gap by funding the cold storage, equipment, processing, transportation and other tools that allow producers to build sustainable businesses, reach new markets and feed more Illinois families,” said state Rep. Sonya Harper, chief House sponsor and House Agriculture and Conservation Committee chair.

“I’m proud to have led this effort in the General Assembly because strengthening our local food system strengthens our economy, our communities and our food security.”

2026 Awardees

• Abundant Pastures, Richland County — $38,182

• Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School, Cook County — $61,600

• Ada S. McKinley Community Services Inc., Cook County — $75,000

• Al Raawi LLC, Jackson County — $75,000

• Alto Vineyards Ltd., Union County — $75,000

• Angelic Organics Learning Center / Farmers Rising, Boone County — $71,661

• Arrow Farm Meats LLC, Stephenson County — $75,000

• Beyond Hunger, Cook County — $75,000

• Broadview Farm and Gardens LLC, McHenry County — $45,000

• Carthage Quality Meats LLC, Hancock County — $56,25.

• Chicago Chesed Fund, Cook County — $127,500

• Cribelar Custom Processing LLC, Clark County — $75,000

• Curtis Orchard Ltd., Champaign County — $75,000

• Danndee Flowers, Mercer County — $72,600

• Dittmar Farms LLC, Jo Daviess County — $21,200

• Dutch Valley Meats Inc., Douglas County — $75,000

• Elawa Farm Foundation, Lake County — $14,617

• Evanston Grows, Cook County, $75,000

• Eastern Illinois Foodbank, Champaign County — $75,000

• Flamm Orchards Inc., Union County — $44,355

• Food for Greater Elgin Inc., Kane County — $73,041

• Four Star Mushrooms LLC, Cook County — $75,000

• Fritz Meat and Processing, Jersey County — $57,721

• GGGY1 / Citadelle Green Mountain, Cook County — $7,800

• Gravity Farms LLC, Livingston County — $8,710

• Grissom Family Orchard and Farm Market, Cumberland County — $43,369

• Heartland Human Care Services, Cook County — $59,558

• Hilltop Butcher Shoppe LLC, Shelby County — $72,000

• Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233, Cook County — $75,000

• Inspiration Corporation, Cook County — $75,000

• Just Roots, Cook County — $49,500

• Kakadoodle LLC, Will County — $57,093

• La Criolla Inc., Cook County — $75,000

• Liberty Apple Orchard Inc., Madison County — $1,424

• Liberty Prairie, Lake County — $75,000

• Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry, DuPage County — $75,000

• Lucy Jill Rendleman / All Seasons Farm, Union County — $64,757

• Mahoney Farms II, Kankakee County — $75,000

• Main Street Pastures, Clinton County — $74,998

• NeighborSpace, Cook County, $205,000

• Palatine Township, Cook County — $75,000

• Panther Ridge Farms LLC, Woodford County — $42,141

• Paris Frozen Foods Inc., Montgomery County — $75,000

• Phoenix Bean LLC, Cook County — $75,000

• Prairies Edge Garden LLC, McHenry County — $1,959

• Prairiesburg Fields Inc. / Paul Darrow 13, Kane County — $75,000

• Prairiesburg Fields Inc. / Paul Darrow 27, Kane County — $62,543

• Rendleman Orchards Inc., Union County — $60,286

• Riverside Foods, Cook County — $52,446

• Roots & Vine Food Hub, Cook County — $9,057

• Rustic Road Farm LLC, Kane County — $75,000

• Saradough, Will County — $10,642

• Symphony Foods LLC, Cook County — $75,000

• The FARMS of Illinois LLC, Morgan County — $41,766

• The Supah Food Co., Kendall County and Will County — $72,000

• The Witty Farmer LLC / Jennifer Sauer, Scott County — $38,781

• The Witty Farmer LLC / Pittsfield, Pike County — $25,000

• The Witty Farmer LLC / Carrollton, Greene County — $20,000

• Three Rivers Community Farm, Jersey County — $11,900

• Triple M Farm Mariah’s Mums & More LLC, DeWitt County — $26,465

• Triple S Farms Families LLC, Shelby County — $26,000

• Vander Burgh Farms LLC, Moultrie County — $75,000

• Vincent Todd Jokisch, Cass County — $32,468

• Zehr Farms LLC, Tazewell County — $65,860

About LFIG

Eligible applicants were required to meet administrative program rules, including Illinois entity with fewer than 50 employees involved in the production, processing, or distribution of value added agricultural products.

This year’s awardees will utilize grant funding to invest in critical infrastructure such as cold storage, processing equipment, transportation, aggregation facilities and other improvements necessary to scale operations and improve local food access.

For more information about the program, including future funding opportunities, visit the IDOA website at tinyurl.com/Illinois-LFIG.