About this programme
The Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) Grants Program provides grants that directly benefit and strengthen the local food system in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), Division of Agriculture, runs it.
The program was established by the Local Agriculture and Seafood Act of 2012, through a public-private partnership between the State of Rhode Island and three private foundations: the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, the Henry P. Kendall Foundation, and the Rhode Island Foundation. Funding is now provided by the State of Rhode Island.
The goal is to support the growth, development, and marketing of local food and seafood in Rhode Island.
How it works
The maximum grant award available to a farmer, individual, business (such as an LLC), or nonprofit organization is $20,000.
Overhead and administrative costs are limited to 10% of the total budget proposal.
Each grant year, the LASA Advisory Committee sets funding priorities and recommends them to the Director of RIDEM. Applicants must fulfill at least one (not all) of that year's priorities, which for 2025-2026 include: supporting underinvested, beginning, small, women, and veteran agriculture and aquaculture producers and fishers; supporting second-generation farmers and succession planning; climate-smart agriculture mitigation and adaptation; new marketing, promotion, sales, or distribution channels, including connecting local farms and fishers with food-insecure communities; new product development including value-added processing; new cooperatives, partnerships, or collaborations among producers and fishers; protecting the future availability of agricultural land, including farm transition planning; and on-farm food safety improvements, including FSMA and HACCP compliance.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are a farmer, individual, business (for example, an LLC), or nonprofit organization engaged in Rhode Island's local food or seafood system.
Applicants must fulfill at least one of the LASA Advisory Committee's funding priorities for the grant year.
How to apply
- Register on the Ocean State Procurement Portal (https://ridop.ri.gov/ocean-state-procures-osp).
- Complete the application in the GMS System.
- Fill out the budget template in eCivis GMS.
- Gather necessary supporting documents, such as lease agreements.
- Submit before the application deadline; for the 2025-2026 cycle, the Request for Applications (RFA) was released October 6, 2025, with an application deadline of December 5, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
Documents you’ll typically need
- Ocean State Procurement Portal registration
- Completed application in the GMS System
- Budget template, filled out in eCivis GMS
- Supporting documents such as lease agreements
- Request for Applications (RFA) PDF, which contains full eligibility details
Frequently asked
How much can I get from a LASA grant?
The maximum grant award available to a farmer, individual, business, or nonprofit organization is $20,000.
How much of the budget can go to overhead?
Overhead and administrative costs are capped at 10% of the total budget proposal.
Do I need to meet every funding priority?
No. Applicants are required to fulfill at least one, not all, of the funding priorities set for that grant year.
What is the timeline for the 2025-2026 cycle?
The Request for Applications was released October 6, 2025, applications were due December 5, 2025 at 11:59 PM, award decisions and grant agreement execution happen in April 2026, all grant funds must be obligated by June 30, 2026, and final reports are due August 31, 2028.
Who do I contact with questions?
Email DEM.LASA@dem.ri.gov or call (401) 222-2781; Division of Agriculture staff are available during Rhode Island business hours, Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, though assistance may be limited shortly before deadlines.
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Reviewed 2026-09-25. Programmes change, so check eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private firm and is not part of any government body.