Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance

Program objective

The purpose of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance (CCG) is to support food assistance entities to temporarily store, effectively package, and distribute fresh and minimally processed foods through cold chain equipment investments. This will be achieved primarily through small investments in refrigeration, freezers, refrigerated/freezer vehicles and trailers, and repackaging equipment. CCG program investments help put U.S. farmers and ranchers at the center of solving the nation’s chronic health problems, support recovery of foods that would otherwise go to waste, improve food and agricultural supply chain resilience, and ensure that all families, regardless of circumstance, can access Real Food. The resulting increased capacity for food banks, food pantries, and similar entities will help ensure more nutrient-dense proteins and other healthy foods be made available in support of healthier families and healthier communities and in alignment with the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

As published in the SAM.gov Assistance Listing.

No open or forecasted opportunities are currently posted under this listing. Programs often post notices on an annual cycle — see recently closed opportunities below for timing.

Eligible applicants (program level)

• ✓Nonprofit Organization

Eligible entities are described in the program’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) as nonprofit corporations, organizations, or institutions, including nonprofits with State or Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) status where no part of the organization’s or institution’s net earnings inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. This may include charitable organizations or private foundations. AMS prioritizes awards to nonprofits that demonstrate the capacity to implement and manage a competitive subaward program funding others to conduct projects that meet the goals of the program. This includes competitive application solicitation, application review, award, oversight, and reporting. Applicants must be domestically owned, and their facilities must be physically located within the 50 States of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Intended beneficiaries: Other.

Program-level eligibility from SAM.gov. Each funding notice sets its own requirements.

Recently closed under 10.197

Frequently asked questions