ERIE – Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-49) today announced that more than $2 million in federally funded grants will support farms and food producers in northwestern Pennsylvania as part of a statewide effort to build a stronger, more resilient food supply chain.
The funding is part of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grant program, a $24 million initiative announced this week by the Shapiro administration and funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program, first unveiled by Gov. Josh Shapiro during the 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show, is designed to boost capacity, create jobs and help local producers reach new markets.
“This is a major win for our local farmers, processors and food businesses,” Laughlin said. “These investments will help working families grow their operations, expand distribution and meet the increasing demand for fresh, local products. It’s about fairness and opportunity—and ensuring that Pennsylvania’s agricultural economy works for producers of every size.”
The RFSI program provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants to support the aggregation, processing, storage and distribution of local food products. It includes two types of funding:
Infrastructure grants (IG): Designed to fund system-wide improvements that benefit multiple producers.
Equipment-only grants (EO): Targeted investments to help individual producers modernize and expand operations.
Award recipients in Laughlin’s district include:
Farmer’s Kitchen – $1 million (IG): Constructing a processing facility for organic frozen potato products, creating new market opportunities for regional growers.
Welch Foods Cooperative – $750,000 (IG): Modernizing refrigeration systems to increase grape juice and spread production, supporting 200 grower-owners.
Edinboro Market – $99,681 (EO): Expanding kitchen, storage and delivery operations to better connect producers with wholesale and retail buyers.
Manison Farms – $100,000 (EO): Purchasing bulk truck bins and gondolas to improve grape aggregation efficiency and increase sales.
Mason Farms – $65,500 (EO): Purchasing bulk storage and transport equipment to improve post-harvest handling and reduce contamination risk.
Robert Mazza Inc. – $97,500 (EO): Upgrading sparkling wine processing and packaging equipment to increase production and co-packing services.
Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network – $64,019 (EO): Upgrading farmers market infrastructure with cold storage and processing stations to increase access and sales.
“These investments reflect a smart, targeted approach to supporting the agriculture industry and strengthening the middle of the food supply chain,” Laughlin said. “I’ll continue to advocate for resources that grow our regional economy and create long-term opportunities for Pennsylvania producers.”
A full list of recipients is available at www.agriculture.pa.gov.
Media Contact:
Chris Carroll: (814)-453-2515
Ccarroll@pasen.gov