The Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides funding for projects that increases food access for low-income individuals.

There are two types of grants under this program: Planning Projects and Community Food Projects. Applications for both are due through Grants.gov by October 30, 2023 at 5:00 PM ET.

Eligibility

Applicants to this grant program must have experience with:

• Community food work, especially working with small to medium sized farms to provide for low-income residents
• Job training and business development for food-related activities in low-income communities
• Efforts to redue food insecurity

Program Priorities

The Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program is intended to:

• Meet food needs of low-income residents through measures such as food distribution, assistance to federally funded nutrition programs, and improving access to food
• Increase community self-reliance for meeting food needs of residents
• Promote comprehensive responses to local food, food access, farm, and nutrition issues

OR

• Meet state, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs such as equipment, long-term planning, or creative marketing strategies to benefit both producers and low-income customers

Grant Programs

Planning Projects

Planning Projects provide start-up capital for new projects or funding to perform planning activities in preparation for completing a Community Food Project. Applications and projects should focus on a specific, defined community and must involve low-income individuals.

Applicants may request up to $35,000 over 12-36 months; the average award is $25,000. A 1:1 match of non-federal funding is required.

Potential projects include:

• Community food assessments
• Collaborative development plans
• Global Information Systems analyses
• Food sovereignty studies
• Farm-to-institution exploration

Community Food Projects

Community Food Projects should create long-term, sustainable solutions to food and nutrition security. They should have a whole community focus, rather than supporting just one food pantry, farmers’ market, or community garden. All projects must involve low-income individuals.

The minimum award is $125,000 over 12 months; the maximum award is $400,000 over 48 months. A 1:1 match of non-federal funding is required.

Potential projects include:

• Value chain projects
• Farm-to-institution projects
• Food hubs
• Marketing & consumer cooperatives