The Food Hub Program supports the expansion, modernization, and establishment of food hubs that improve food aggregation, storage, processing, and distribution. Funding helps connect local producers with markets, strengthen regional distribution networks, improve supply chain efficiency and lower barriers to entry for small and medium-sized businesses.

The program aims to:

• Expand or modernize food hubs and related facilities.
• Improve regional infrastructure, equipment and logistics capacity.
• Increase competition within regional food systems.
• Improve food distribution infrastructure and strengthen supply chains.
• Increase use of food hubs by small and medium-sized agri-food businesses and independent retailers.

Applicants must be legal entities capable of entering legally binding agreements and must be involved, or appropriately positioned to become involved, in activities related to aggregating, processing, storing and distributing locally grown and/or processed foods.

Ineligible applicants:

• Financial institutions
• Academic and educational institutions
• Foreign governments
• Foreign organizations.

The program is part of the Food-Link Fund, a 10-year, $1-billion initiative under Canada's National Food Security Strategy.

Eligible Activities:

• Purchasing or upgrading food-handling and processing equipment
• Digital infrastructure
• Facility construction and retrofits
• Feasibility studies
• Supply chain mapping
• Food safety and traceability improvements
• Packing and labelling
• Producer coordination and market development.

Eligible Costs:

• Capital assets
• Contracted services, salaries and benefits directly related to the project
• Administration (normally limited to 10% of eligible costs)
• Other direct project costs.