Central Illinois Farmers Encouraged to Begin LFIG Grant Applications Now Ahead of March 27 Deadline

DECATUR -- Farmers, food businesses, cooperatives, and community organizations across Decatur and Central Illinois are being encouraged to begin the application process now for the Fiscal Year 2026 Local Food Infrastructure Grant (LFIG) program, with the deadline to apply set for March 27.

Advocates say prospective applicants should start preparing materials immediately because several state registration requirements must be completed before an application can be submitted. Those administrative steps can take time, meaning organizations that wait until the final days of the application period could risk missing the deadline.

Applications for the FY2026 grant cycle opened Feb. 18, offering producers and food system partners an opportunity to secure funding for infrastructure that helps move Illinois-grown food from farms to local markets, grocery stores, schools, restaurants, and families.

The Illinois Stewardship Alliance is encouraging growers and food entrepreneurs across Central Illinois to act early to ensure they can complete the state’s registration process and submit a strong application before the deadline.

“Local food doesn’t move itself,” said Liz Moran Stelk, executive director of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance. “Farmers across Illinois are ready to meet growing demand for locally produced food, but they need the infrastructure to do it. The LFIG program helps close that gap while strengthening local economies and food access.”

The Local Food Infrastructure Grant program supports projects that improve the backbone of the state’s local food supply chain. Eligible investments include cold storage facilities, food processing equipment, aggregation and distribution hubs, transportation capacity, and other infrastructure that helps farms and food businesses reach new markets.

For growers in Central Illinois, those investments can help expand opportunities to supply local groceries, schools, restaurants, and community food programs while keeping more food dollars circulating in regional economies.

Previous grant recipients demonstrate how targeted infrastructure investments can strengthen both farms and communities.

In McLean County, Funks Grove Heritage Fruits & Grains used LFIG funding to improve grain handling and on-site processing capacity. The upgrades allowed the farm to reduce transportation burdens, improve product quality, and capture more value locally within the regional food economy.

Advocates say projects like these illustrate how relatively modest infrastructure investments can unlock new opportunities for farmers while strengthening the local food system.

“These are exactly the kinds of ripple effects we envisioned,” Stelk said. “When you invest in infrastructure, you’re supporting jobs, strengthening supply chains, and improving food access across Illinois communities.”

Strong participation in this year’s application cycle will also help demonstrate continued demand for the program as lawmakers debate the next state budget this spring.

More information about eligibility and application requirements is available at:
https://agr.illinois.gov/assistance/illinoisfarmprograms/lfig.html