Secretary Rollins Terminates Pandemic-Era Food Business Initiative
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the termination of the Regional Food Business Centers (RFBC) program. This initiative, created as part of a pandemic-era effort, was funded by one-time, temporary Congressional allocations. Secretary Rollins noted that while the program had a broad scope, it was not established in the best way and should not have been created with such temporary funding.
However, the USDA is working to honor its commitments to farmers and food businesses, particularly through the Business Builder subaward program. Out of the 12 RFBCs, only 8 have successfully selected or issued Business Builder grants. Due to the time-consuming process of forming partnerships and planning, only a limited number of grants have been awarded so far.
For centers that have already made or announced Business Builder subawards, they will be allowed to continue managing these commitments until May 2026. However, centers that have not made any such commitments, including the Great Lakes Midwest RFBC, Southeast RFBC, Delta RFBC, and Islands and Remote Areas RFBC, will be closed.
While this decision marks the end of the RFBC program, the USDA remains dedicated to supporting the ongoing commitments and ensuring that any pending grants are honored. This action is in line with the department's broader goals to streamline its programs and ensure the best use of resources.
Secretary Rollins has committed to ensuring that farmers and food businesses impacted by this transition will continue to receive the necessary support during the phase-out of the program.