In 2020, the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Task Force approved more than $130 million in relief funding in the form of grants to eligible businesses. One of these grants was the Securing Local Food Systems (SLFS) grant program, which was created to support Kansas meat processing facilities, food processors, food banks, local direct-to-consumer producers, and retail outlets to increase capacity of Kansas’ local food systems.

Grants were awarded to more than 250 Kansas businesses and individuals in 80 counties. The full list of those selected for the SLFS grants can be viewed here. 

The SLFS grant funds were used by these local recipients for a wide scope of capital expenses related to increasing the capacity of these food-related businesses, including things like expansion or rental of buildings, facilities, or equipment; technology that improves business resilience; facility reconfiguration to meet social distancing guidelines; costs associated with sanitation or worker safety; and more. The impact of these projects had across the state can be viewed here. 

All SLFS grant funds have been expended. Applications for this grant program are no longer being accepted.