$7.5 million federal grant set to expand cold chain capacity in the US

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating $7.5 million to fund projects to support cold chain equipment investments in the country. 

Available through the agency’s Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance Program (CCG), the program seeks to help food assistance entities temporarily store, effectively package, and distribute fresh, frozen, and minimally processed foods.

Image courtesy of USDA via Flickr

“Over the past year and a half, we have worked hard to incentivize healthier options for Americans and today’s announcement is another step in the right direction,” said US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. 

The government official said the grant is also part of the White House’s Make America Healthy Again, spearheaded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“Every American deserves access to real, nutritious food,” he said. “This funding will give food banks the infrastructure to deliver more meat, eggs, dairy, produce, and other whole foods from American farmers and ranchers to families in need.”

Referential image | Shutterstock

Funded non-profit organizations will administer a subaward program to support cold storage within the middle of the supply chain. The selected grant recipient(s) will be responsible for managing and overseeing a competitive subaward program, including providing consultation and subject matter expertise to sub-awardees in support of cold storage in consumer-facing food assistance operations.

CCG recipients will issue subawards to fund cold chain equipment purchases, with the amount awarded being equal to the cost of the equipment and documented delivery, installation, and necessary ancillary equipment/supplies, up to $200,000. Sub-awardees will be required to provide a 10 percent cash cost share contribution.

Referential image | Shutterstock

Application information for cold chain funding 

CCG applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on October 1st, 2026.

Any grant application submitted after the due date will not be considered. More information is available in the AMS’ Late Applications, Denials and/or Appeals Procedures Policy.

*Main image is referential via Shutterstock. 

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