between-intakes Federal Grant

USDA Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP)

USDA Rural Development — Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS)

$1M–$100M

Visit official program ↗ See if you qualify — free

The short version

Domestic fertilizer production grants

The Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP) provides large competitive grants to expand independent, domestic U.S. production of fertilizer and nutrient alternatives. Administered by USDA Rural Development's Rural Business-Cooperative Service and funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation, it aims to increase competition, lower input costs for farmers, and strengthen agricultural supply-chain resilience. Grants range from $1 million to $100 million per project for building new manufacturing capacity, expanding or modernizing existing facilities, providing operational funding to boost capacity, and developing or installing improved processing equipment and technology. Eligible applicants include for-profit businesses and corporations, producer-owned cooperatives and corporations, certified benefit corporations, nonprofits, Tribes and Tribal organizations, and state or local governments; private entities must be independently owned and operated. As of 2026 USDA has restarted previously-stalled FPEP projects, with construction expected to proceed.

Funding type: Grant
Level: Federal
Amount range: $1,000,000 – $100,000,000
Realistic amount: FPEP awards are large infrastructure grants; prior rounds funded projects across a wide rang…
Deadline: Between intakes — applications are accepted during periodic USDA notices of funding availability; confirm the current window on grants.gov and the RD FPEP page.
Status: between-intakes
States: Nationwide
Payment model: reimbursement

Who qualifies

Eligible applicants: for-profit businesses and corporations, producer-owned cooperatives and corporations, certified benefit corporations, nonprofit entities, Tribes and Tribal organizations, and state or local governments
Private (non-government) entities must be independently owned and operated
Must operate in the United States or one of its territories
Project must increase or expand domestic manufacturing/processing of fertilizer or nutrient alternatives
Must follow all federal, state, Tribal, and local regulations governing fertilizer/nutrient manufacturing, processing, storage, distribution, and waste management
Must be registered in SAM.gov and maintain a valid SAM registration through application and award
Must provide the required matching funds for eligible project costs

Hard requirements

Must be an incorporated business

What it covers

Eligible expenses

Construction of new fertilizer/nutrient-alternative manufacturing facilities
Expansion or modernization of existing production facilities
Operational funding to increase production capacity
Developing, customizing, and installing equipment, devices, and technology that improve processing
Eligible project costs supporting new or expanded manufacturing/processing capacity

Ineligible expenses

Activities outside fertilizer/nutrient-alternative manufacturing and processing
Costs not tied to expanding independent domestic production capacity
Projects by entities that are not independently owned and operated (for private applicants)
Costs disallowed under the NOFO or federal cost principles

How to apply

1

Confirm an open funding round and register in SAM.gov

Verify a current FPEP notice of funding is open on grants.gov and the RD FPEP page, and ensure an active SAM.gov/UEI registration (this can take weeks — start early).

~8 hrs
2

Define the project and matching funds

Scope the new/expanded production project, develop the budget and required matching-funds plan, and confirm the project meets independent-domestic-production and regulatory requirements.

~40 hrs
3

Prepare the full federal application

Assemble the SF-424 federal forms, technical project narrative, financials, environmental information, regulatory compliance documentation, and matching-funds commitments per the NOFO.

~60 hrs
4

Submit via grants.gov and respond to USDA review

Submit the complete application through grants.gov before the deadline and respond to any USDA RBCS clarification requests during merit and eligibility review.

~12 hrs

Insider tip

FPEP rewards 'independent' domestic capacity — projects that demonstrably increase competition against the few dominant fertilizer producers score best, and producer-owned cooperatives and smaller independent manufacturers have been explicit priorities. Start SAM.gov registration and lock your matching-funds commitments early; an incomplete match plan or lapsed SAM registration is a common disqualifier on a grant this large.

Deadline & timing

FPEP runs in funding rounds announced via USDA Rural Development notices of funding (prior NOFOs include FY2024 and FY2025). As of 2026 USDA restarted stalled FPEP projects; check the official RD FPEP page and grants.gov for the next open application window before preparing a submission.

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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.