Other Federal Grants Available
Additionally, in addition to the financial options identified above by the USDA, additional federal agencies may offer funding possibilities to assist Farm to School initiatives. Listed below are a few instances of such chances in different fields.
- The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a regional planning organization based in Boone, North Carolina (ARC) ARC monies are distributed to state and municipal agencies and governmental bodies (such as economic development authority), local governing boards (such as county councils), and nonprofit groups (such as school districts). In the Appalachian Region, contracts are provided for research into themes that have a direct influence on the economic development of the region. Projects can be focused on a variety of topics such as company growth, community infrastructure, and training. The Community Development Block Grant Program is a federally funded program that assists low-income communities in developing their infrastructure (CDBGP) The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBGP) was established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 1974 and is currently one of the longest continually running programs at HUD. The CDBGP is a highly adaptable program that provides communities with the tools they need to fulfill a wide range of specific community development requirements. The CDBGP is intended to spur the expansion and retention of small and medium-sized enterprises in the community. This program provides aid with company planning, building, equipment procurement, training, and technical assistance. It is funded by the federal government. Grantees are required to produce a strategy that fosters public engagement while also addressing the needs of the community. Developing a food hub, growers’ cooperative, or local processing facility to promote local foods in schools may fit the criteria for this award from the CDFI Fund (Community Development Financial Institutions). According to the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994, the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund was formed in order to encourage economic development in low-income communities. The CDFI Program’s goal is to use federal resources to invest in community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and to strengthen their ability to assist low-income persons and communities that do not have access to affordable financial goods and services. CDFIs may utilize the funds to pursue a range of objectives, including the promotion of economic growth and the formation of new businesses. CDFI Funds give a chance for business growth, such as food hubs and cooperatives, which may help to improve farm to school initiatives. The Community Economic Development (CED) Program is a federally funded initiative. The Community Economic Development (CED) Program of the Department of Health and Human Services seeks to meet the economic needs of low-income persons by providing them with job and business possibilities. Funds can be utilized for a variety of purposes, including business beginning and expansion, as well as the acquisition of equipment and real estate. Construction of physical food centers, processing or cooperative facilities, employment training, and marketing are all examples of how CED projects may help farm activities. Delta Regional Authority is a public-private partnership that promotes economic development in the Delta region (DRA) The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) has contributed to the improvement of the overall quality of life as well as the expansion of economic development prospects. The Delta Regional Authority’s primary investment mechanism is the States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP) (SEDAP). The Delta Regional Authority’s Strategic Economic Development Action Plan (SEDAP) was created in order to improve the economic development activities taking place in the Delta area. The DRA is dedicated to the development of small businesses and the promotion of a healthy delta. Agriculture and Rural Development (DRA) grant monies may be available for Farm to School projects that create jobs and use a sustainable, regional strategy. EDA is an acronym for Economic Development Agency (EDA) The Economic Development Agency (EDA), which is a division of the Department of Commerce, provides a number of various investment aid possibilities for a range of different initiatives. Economic development, technical support, and research and evaluation are just a few of the initiatives that are available. It is possible to use money from some of the programs to support facility building and equipment acquisition. Economically depressed areas must be the setting for the projects. Healthy Food Financing Initiative is an acronym that stands for Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) It is the first time that the federal government has coordinated a program to eliminate “food deserts.” The Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) is a part of that effort. The Good Food for Families Initiative (HFFI) supports programs that expand access to healthy, affordable food in communities that do not already have such alternatives. HFFI will expand the availability of nutritious food through a variety of programs at the United States Departments of Agriculture, Treasury, and Health and Human Services. These programs will include developing and equipping grocery stores, small retailers, corner stores, farmers markets, cooperatives, and food hubs that sell healthy food, among other things. Funding is available to businesses, non-profit groups, cooperatives, and state departments of agriculture. The HFFI’s Community Economic Development (CED) Program is a critical component of the organization.
Food Desert Relief Program (NEW)
Amounts up to $40 million per year in tax credits, loans, grants, and/or technical assistance are available through the Food Desert Relief Program to address the food security needs of communities throughout New Jersey by increasing access to nutritious foods and developing new approaches to alleviate food deserts. The NJEDA will identify up to 50 food desert communities across the state in collaboration with the Departments of Community Affairs and Agriculture; award tax credits to businesses to encourage the establishment and retention of new supermarkets and grocery stores in food desert communities; provide technical assistance on best practices for increasing the accessibility of nutritious foods; and provide grants and loans to food retailers of all sizes to fund the purchase of equipment to increase the accessibility of nutritious foods.
- Eligibility, award size, fiscal and resident protections are all discussed in detail.
ELIGIBILITY Supermarkets and grocery stores that wish to be eligible for tax credits under the Food Desert Relief Program must meet the following requirements:
- Be a retail establishment with a minimum floor size of 16,000 square feet, with 90 percent of the space devoted to food and associated items
- In a designated food desert community, be the first or second supermarket or grocery shop
- Make a commitment to accepting benefits from government nutrition assistance programs, such as SNAP and WIC
Eligible entities in designated food desert communities will be able to apply for grants and loans for equipment, technology costs, and initiatives to improve residents’ food security. These entities include supermarkets and grocery stores, midsize food retailers with 2,500 to 16,000 square feet of space, and small food retailers with less than 2,500 square feet of space. AWARD PRIZE VALUE When building the first supermarket or grocery shop in a food desert town, developers are entitled to obtain tax credits of up to 40% of the overall project cost, with the second supermarket or grocery store receiving tax credits of up to 20% of the total project cost.
This is a one-time opportunity.
This support will be provided in the two most widely spoken languages in New Jersey, English and Spanish.
PROTECTIONS FOR FINANCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL INTERESTS In order to be eligible for funding through the Food Desert Relief Program, the project must be in good standing with the New Jersey Department of Labor, the New Jersey Department of Treasury, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Department of Labor and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. Supermarkets and grocery businesses that get prizes will be subject to Labor Harmony Agreements for a period of time.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Request for Information 2021-RFI-OET-COVID19-125 Request for Information Affording Food Insecurity in New Jersey’s Food Deserts is a priority. Read on to find out more
Food Retailers Can Earn Grants for Healthy Food Access
During the epidemic, increased emphasis has been placed on improving availability to nutritious foods. When it comes to eating well, there are benefits – and this is true for food stores that have maintained their supply of fresh and healthful goods during the epidemic. According to the administration of Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat who has been in power since 2015, a recently announced initiative in Pennsylvania will send $10 million in awards to state companies who have fought to ensure availability to fresh, healthful food throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Pennsylvania grant money comes from the state’s Fresh Food Financing Initiative COVID-19 Relief Fund, which is funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act.
Food aggregation centers with a direct connection to direct-to-consumer retail outlets are eligible to apply for grants.
Minority Focus
Applicants must make more than half of their sales from staple and perishable items sold to consumers, and the store must serve customers who live in a low-to-moderate-income region in order to qualify for the grant. Customers with low to moderate incomes must also have access to reasonable, high-quality fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, dairy products, and other healthy food goods. Additionally, applicants must accept SNAP and WIC benefits to the greatest degree feasible. Priority will be given to firms in Pennsylvania that are “owned by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color,” according to the governor’s office.
Applications for grants will be accepted until August 14.
In order to protect those who put food on the shelves, Pennsylvania’s food retailers have stepped up to the plate, thinking outside of the box in order to protect the most vulnerable, and making investments in order to support those who rely on assistance programs like SNAP and WIC to support their families, according to Wolf.
The efforts of individuals who have worked tirelessly to ensure that food is always available throughout this epidemic will be remembered for a lifetime; our frontline employees at grocery stores and farmers markets are among Pennsylvania’s unsung heroes.
Other Programs
Preparations for increasing access to such food — particularly among low-income customers — were already underway even prior to the epidemic and the consequent business closures and employment losses. However, several states have redoubled their efforts in recent months, including through various schemes that may or may not be identical to what Pennsylvania is attempting to do. Because of the epidemic, such labor is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, especially given the fact that some unemployment benefits are due to expire and that more customers are facing the prospect of eviction.
- Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) and has garnered widespread support.
- Independent supermarkets provide food aid to millions of Americans who are in need of help through the SNAP public-private partnership.
- However, as of March, just a handful of states and merchants have the permission to allow SNAP participants to use online grocery shopping services to make grocery purchases.
- SNAP online purchases are now permitted in 43 states and the District of Columbia, however many small shops continue to confront challenges in providing the program to customers in their communities.
Warner Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Nutritious Foods, Help Eliminate Food Deserts
The epidemic and the subsequent store closures and employment losses prompted the implementation of policies to improve access to such food, particularly for low-income customers. However, several states have redoubled their efforts in recent months, including through various schemes that may or may not be identical to those being pursued by Pennsylvania. Because of the epidemic, such labor is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, especially given the fact that some unemployment benefits are due to expire and more customers are facing the prospect of eviction.
Independent grocers are being encouraged to participate in the SNAP Online Purchasing program through the passage of this legislation.
In the midst of the COVID-19 issue, the number of consumers who purchase food online or through delivery services has expanded considerably, as has the number of Americans who participate in SNAP.
To address this situation, the USDA has expanded the scope of its SNAP online shopping pilot program, making it available to additional states and businesses.
Many small merchants still encounter challenges in giving consumers the SNAP program, despite the fact that it is now legal to do so in 43 states and the District of Columbia.
- After getting certification, businesses that build new grocery shops in food deserts will be eligible for a one-time tax credit of 15 percent on their profits. Renovation of Existing Facilities — Businesses that make renovations to an existing shop’s healthy food sections may be eligible for a one-time 10 percent tax credit when the repairs are completed and the business is recertified as a SAFP. Organizations such as food banks who construct new (permanent) facilities in food deserts will be eligible to receive a one-time subsidy equal to 15 percent of their construction expenses. The funding will cover 10 percent of the yearly operational costs of certified temporary access merchants (such as mobile markets, farmers markets, and some food banks) that are 501(c)(3)s.
Among the organizations that have endorsed the Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act are Feeding America, the National Grocers Association, Share Our Strength, and Bread for the World. “Feeding America commends Senator Warner for confronting the unfortunate fact that the burdens faced by the 40 million Americans who live with hunger are exacerbated for those who live in food deserts,” says Feeding America in a statement. A common understanding among the Food Bank Network’s 200 member food banks is that regions with a lack of inexpensive, nutritious foods alternatives have higher rates of food insecurity, which is worsened by a lack of appropriate transportation to the nearest food pantry or grocery store.
- Ending food deserts will assist more families in putting food on the table, as well as ensuring that children receive the nourishment they require to grow up healthy and robust.
- “We applaud Sens.
- With one in every six Americans and one in every four children enduring food insecurity as a result of the epidemic, this measure is urgently required.
- Tim Ryan (D-OH) and A.
- As part of the COVID-19 crisis response, Sen.
He has successfully pushed the USDA to waive a requirement that made it more difficult for families to receive USDA-reimbursable meals, and he has obtained a USDA designation that allows food banks to distribute food directly to Virginia families in need while restricting interactions between food bank staff, volunteers, and families.
- Additionally, in August, Sen.
- Nutrition aid is included in the COVID-19 relief package, which was passed into law in December and offers $13 billion in nutrition assistance, including a 15% increase in SNAP payments.
- Warner presented bipartisan, bicameral legislation last month that would allow the federal government to cover all of the costs associated with states partnering with restaurants to deliver meals to disadvantaged communities.
- This link will take you to a summary of the legislation.
- 4731 Bathtubs and Showers 3901 is a bland number.
- Brunswick’s area code is 8041.
- Campbell’s phone number is 8756.
Carroll’s phone number is 4767.
Culpeper’s telephone number is 18511.
Essex County: 8026 11213 Fairfax, Virginia Floyd’s phone number is 9102.
Henrico County: 39618 Henry’s phone number is 22130.
Loudoun County: 3869 Mecklenburg County has a population of 17632 people.
9783 Nottoway Road 4934 in the color orange Patrick’s number is 11262.
Prince Edward’s telephone number is 10624.
Shenandoah County: 9068 Smyth’s number is 3913.
Stafford’s area code is 12818.
Warren’s number is 14335.
Wythe (6773): Bristol area code: 13982 6650 Buena Vista Blvd.
Danville’s area code is 15545.
8988 Fredericksburg, Virginia 38928 Hampton Roads 9016, Harrisonburg, Virginia Hopewell’s telephone number is 12120.
Manassas, Virginia (7678) Manassas Park phone number: 6248 6166 Martinsville, Virginia 6166 Martinsville, Virginia 6166 Martinsville, Virginia 6166 Martinsville, Virginia 6166 Newport News (Virginia) 38292 62583 is the area code for Norfolk.
Petersburg, FL 11862 (Portsmouth, New Hampshire) Radford’s telephone number is 12260 62381 is the zip code for Richmond.
Roanoke, Virginia (39950) Salem, Oregon (10424) Suffolk County: 9752 27205 Virginia Beach, Virginia Waynesboro (North Carolina): 5240 4138 Williamsburg Avenue, Williamsburg, Virginia. 1,186,877 people in total *2017 is the most recent year for which data is currently available.
Food deserts: Definition, effects, and solutions
Food deserts are areas in which individuals have limited access to nutritious and inexpensive food due to geographical limitations. This might be due to a lack of financial resources or the need to go further to locate nutritious meal alternatives. People who live in food deserts may be at increased risk for diet-related illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease because they lack access to nutritious foods. Multiple government agencies are currently sponsoring efforts to prevent regions from becoming food deserts as well as to enhance people’s access to food in areas that have already been declared food deserts by the USDA.
Areas where individuals have limited access to a range of nutritious foods are referred to as food deserts.
The USDA defines a food desert as an area where the poverty rate is greater than or equal to 20 percent, or where the median family income does not exceed 80 percent of the median family income in urban areas, or 80 percent of the statewide median family income in nonurban areas, as defined by the federal government.
In metropolitan areas, at least 500 persons, or 33 percent of the population, must reside more than one mile from the nearest big food store in order for the requirement to be met.
Between 2000 and 2006, the USDA identified approximately 6,500 food deserts.
11.5 million of these persons have poor incomes, making about a quarter of the total.
- Populations that are either extremely huge or extremely sparse
- Low income
- Significant levels of unemployment
- Insufficient access to transportation
- A small number of food shops that provide fresh produce at a reasonable price
High levels of unemployment, insufficient access to transportation, a small number of food shops offering fresh produce at reasonable rates, and huge or very sparse populations are all factors to consider.
- Consuming a diverse range of foods from all dietary categories while keeping calorie consumption under control, minimizing intake of saturated and trans fatty acids, added sweets, and excess salt is recommended.
Foods that are considered healthy by the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans include the following ingredients:
- A range of fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains
- Fat-free or low-fat dairy products
- Protein-rich meals, such as:
- Seafood, lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes, nuts and seeds, and soy products are all good choices.
It is possible that people who live in food deserts have restricted access to supermarkets and other food shops that sell nutritious and reasonably priced items. Healthful meals are sometimes available in convenience stores and tiny grocery stores; nevertheless, they are frequently out of reach for persons on a fixed budget. People who live in food deserts may consequently be more reliant on food merchants or fast food restaurants that offer a more cheap but limited choice of items to supplement their diet.
As a result, diet-related diseases such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease might occur more frequently. The following are some of the health consequences of living in a food desert:
- Obesity is on the rise, as is the prevalence of diabetes, as are other weight-related diseases, particularly in youngsters.
Numerous food deserts also have limited or costly access to health-care resources. In turn, this has a detrimental impact on the health of the individuals who live in these neighborhoods. People use a variety of phrases to express the availability of food to a community. Other instances are discussed in greater detail in the sections that follow.
Food swamps
A food swamp is defined as a place that gives ample access to nutritious and inexpensive food while also providing an oversupply of less nutritious food alternatives. Food swamps are more widespread than food deserts in Canadian metropolitan areas, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
Food mirages
Unhealthy and inexpensive food is readily available in a food swamp, yet there is an overflow of less healthy food alternatives available in the same place. Food swamps are more frequent than food deserts in metropolitan areas in Canada.
Food insecurity
Food insecurity is defined as having restricted or insecure access to food as a result of a lack of financial resources. Families and individuals with limited financial resources may find it difficult to buy nutritious diets. In the United States, policymakers are actively seeking ways to enhance access to nutritious meals in food deserts around the country. The Community Food Programs Competitive Grant Program provides funding for long-term food projects that assist low-income communities in gaining access to nutritious and culturally appropriate diets and lifestyles.
Among the concerns that the Community Food Projects hope to solve are the following:
- Increasing the availability of nutritious, locally sourced meals by implementing the following strategies:
- Affordably priced grocery stores and marketplaces, as well as backyard and community gardens, as well as food aid programs
- Encouraging healthy eating habits by providing education and training on food production, preparation, and nutrition
- Enrolling eligible residents in government nutrition programs
- Increasing access to local farmers markets
- Promoting safe and fair farm worker conditions
- Supporting sustainable agricultural practices that protect the environment, water supply, and habitats
- Assisting food industry entrepreneurs
- Celebrating and honoring diverse food cultures
- Encouraging resiliency in the face of adversity
The term “food desert” refers to a region where people lack access to nutritious foods. They are a huge problem that affects millions of individuals in the United States and throughout the world. According to experts, those who live in a food desert are at a higher risk of developing obesity, diabetes, and other weight-related diseases. Community Food Projects are attempting to enhance food systems in areas that are considered food deserts. The overall goal of the organization is to assist in increasing inhabitants’ access to nutritious foods.
Food Deserts and Development Finance Options in North Carolina
| Community and Economic Development – Blog by UNC School of Government
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By Tyler Mulligan
Donn Young Photography provided the image of the Farmer’s Food Share. On January 27, 2014, the House Committee on Food Desert Zones of the North Carolina General Assembly heard evidence about food deserts in the state of North Carolina. According to the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, a “food desert” is defined as an area where people have “restricted access to inexpensive and nutritious food.” Food desert maps and census tract data may be obtained in the Food Access Research Atlas, which was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (USDA).
According to a recent media report, North Carolina has 349 low-income food deserts, which are defined as locations with a high concentration of low-income inhabitants and no supermarkets (1) within one mile of the community in urban areas or (2) within ten miles of the community in rural regions.
As I noted in my 2010 report on rural asset-building strategies (which I co-authored with Lisa Stifler), food deserts are expected to grow in number in rural areas in the future as rural populations decline and food distribution channels continue to shift to larger superstores in more populous communities, as well as in urban areas.
- Some of the policy alternatives that were given to the House Committee on Food Desert Zones are described in this article, and then a more in-depth look at a recommended solution that involves development finance tools such as loans and grants is discussed.
- The PowerPoint presentations are available on the Committee’s website for viewing.
- I just read a blog post by my faculty colleague Rick Morse on how local food policy councils are studying how local food systems might be part of the answer to alleviate food deserts around the state.
- Unanswered is the question of how to persuade retail grocers to settle in areas known as “food deserts,” when they have previously established that the location is neither appealing nor lucrative for them.
- With this idea, the public sector would engage into partnerships with private sector grocery stores in order to lower the number of people living in food deserts in North Carolina, which would basically be a development financing program.
The following were some of the instruments created as part of the FFFI program in Pennsylvania, which were intended to draw grocers to food deserts:
- Featured image courtesy of Donn Young Photography: Farmer’s Food Share The House Committee on Food Desert Zones of the North Carolina General Assembly heard testimony regarding food deserts in the state on January 27, 2014. “Food desert” is described as an area “with inadequate availability to inexpensive and healthy food,” according to the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The Food Access Research Atlas, created by the United States Department of Agriculture, contains maps and census tract data regarding food deserts (USDA). A common occurrence in low-income neighborhoods is the presence of food deserts. The state of North Carolina has 349 low-income food deserts, which are defined as locations with a high concentration of low-income inhabitants and no supermarkets within one mile in urban areas or within ten miles in rural regions, according to a recent media article. Food deserts are extremely prevalent in rural regions, which may seem counter-intuitive given the fact that farming communities are often deprived of food. Moreover, as I pointed out in my 2010 report on rural asset-building strategies (which I co-authored with Lisa Stifler), as rural populations continue to decline and food distribution channels continue to shift to larger superstores in more populous communities, the number of food deserts in rural areas is expected to grow. Food deserts are being more recognized as a statewide issue requiring a coordinated policy response, with low-income food deserts currently found in 80 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. This post summarizes some of the policy alternatives submitted before the House Committee on Food Desert Zones, and then takes a deeper look at a suggested method employing development finance tools, such as loans and grants, to combat food deserts in America. Different Approaches to Policy As part of a hearing held last month before the House Committee on Food Desert Zones, national and state experts—including my academic colleague Maureen Berner, who also writes for the CED Blog—described a number of policy initiatives that have been employed around the country to address food deserts. It is possible to see the slide presentations on the Committee’s web site. From enticing existing corner grocers to stock healthier foods to connecting local farmers with institutional food purchasers such as schools and hospitals, to supporting grocery store cooperatives such as theCompany Shops Marketin Burlington, North Carolina, to promoting value-added production facilities related to North Carolina agricultural products, the policy prescriptions are numerous. Across the state, local food policy councils, about which my academic colleague Rick Morse has written in this blog, are investigating how local food systems may be a part of the answer in tackling food deserts. A New Approach to Development Finance A critical concern is how to persuade retail grocers to locate in areas that they have previously concluded are unattractive and unprofitable for them, such as food deserts. This is a difficult task. As proposed to the Committee by The Food Trust (and mentioned in a presentation by NC Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary Pat Mitchell), various incentives could be offered to grocers who agree to locate in food deserts, or to existing corner stores in food deserts who agree to refit their stores in order for the products sold there to be healthier. With this idea, the public sector would engage into partnerships with private sector grocery stores in order to lower the number of people living in food deserts in North Carolina, which would effectively equate to a development finance program. I looked up a 2011 report by The Reinvestment Fund, entitled “Healthy Food Retail Financing,” which describes the development finance tools developed by the Fresh Food Financing Initiative (FFFI) in Pennsylvania. The presentations to the Committee did not provide many details about the finance tools that would be required, so I turned to the internet. To recruit grocers to food deserts in Pennsylvania, the following instruments were created as part of the state’s FFFI program:
Good Food Access Program Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant
Unless otherwise stated, the information on this page applies to the prior round of financing. In early 2022, when the next application season starts and new award details are posted, be sure to check back for more information. In low- and moderate-income communities, the Good Food Access Program Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant (GFAP) helps to increase the availability of and access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food (including produce) by improving the physical infrastructure of food distribution facilities.
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants from the following groups are eligible to submit an application:
- Grocery stores that are for-profit and non-profit
- A retail food outlet operated by an emergency food program or a food hub
- A corner shop, convenience store, farmers’ market, mobile food market
All candidates must be active in the retail selling of nutritious and culturally acceptable foods in their respective communities (including fresh fruits and vegetables). Additional requirements for applicants and grantees are outlined in the Request for Proposals, including SNAP and WIC authorization, among other things.
Project Eligibility
Purchase of equipment (such as coolers and freezers) and the construction of physical modifications are also possible with GFAP assistance. In order to qualify, projects must serve census-designated Food Deserts or low- or moderate-income communities with significant subpopulations (such as the elderly or disabled) that do not have easy access to grocery stores. To assess whether or not your project is eligible, do the following:
- For further information, go to the FFIEC Geocoding/Mapping System. Fill in the address of the location where the project will take place. It has been noted that a box appears on the left side of the screen that indicates the Census Tract Visit the Good Food Access Eligible Areaspage for more information. You qualify for GFAP money if your census tract number appears on this website and your location qualifies as a Food Desert or a Low- or Moderate-Income Area, according to the USDA. You may also check theIneligible Areaslist to see if your census tract is included or excluded from eligibility.
Amount Available
In Fiscal Year 2021, we anticipate awarding up to $280,000 in grants. The prize must be at least $2,500. Amount awarded: a maximum of $50,000.
Applying
We anticipate that the next application process will begin in early 2022, and that new program materials will be made available at that point. For further information on how the program operates, please see the previous year’s GFAP Request for Proposals (PDF) or theGFAP Invitation to Submit Proposals (PDF) (PDF). It is possible that this grant program will be modified, therefore you should review the most recent RFP when it is published. You may also go over the list of previous projects and get a copy of an application to use as a guide while you get ready.
Grants That Can Help Fix Food Deserts By Funding Communities Grants
1736 people have looked at this page. Community gardens, Food Deserts, Food Insecurity, GrantNews, grants, GrantWatch, Healthy food, Hunger, Hunger Grants, Hunger Grants Access to nutritious food is becoming an increasingly pressing issue in the United States and throughout the world. The COVID-19 epidemic has increased food insecurity among both adults and children, and this has become a growing worry for both. Many individuals were already struggling prior to the outbreak of the epidemic. Furthermore, many individuals are forced to live in what are known as food deserts.
Many fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, and other healthful foods may be out of reach for millions of Americans, as a result of this.
However, there are organizations that are dedicated to attempting to mitigate these challenges, which affect people and families of color at a larger rate than people and families of other demographic groups.
Food Deserts Need To Be A Focus: People Need Help To Get Healthy
Food deserts are associated with worse results for children as well as a high level of general food insecurity. Other challenges may include serious health concerns such as obesity, among other things. Application for grants is one method through which groups can raise funds for initiatives aimed at relieving associated problems. I’ve already written on food insecurity and the significance of putting a spotlight on it. There are things that can be done to assist enhance the general environment in these places.
GrantWatch Lists Grants That Help With Food InsecurityHealthy Food Accessibility
We are pleased to provide a list of awards that are focused on assisting locals in reducing the effect and improving their living conditions.
- Grants like this one, which help to increase the competitiveness of locally farmed speciality crops, are important. Applicants for this award must be Colorado Groups and Associations
- And Furthermore, grants for nonprofit organizations, school districts, and IHEs are available in the United States: These awards can be used to fund community gardens and environmental initiatives. Additionally, the following funds are available to Indiana Food Councils: It is intended that these money be used to boost food systems throughout the state.
GrantWatch subscribers will be able to see all of these grants because they are all publicly available. You may contact the fantastic customer service staff if you have any queries regarding these grants or any of the others featured on this page. We may be reached by phone at 561-249-4129, and we look forward to hearing from our customers.
Maryland
Introducing the Maryland Fresh Food Financing Initiative (MD FFFI). Maryland’s Fresh Food Financing Initiative (FFFI) is a program that aims to increase access to nutritious foods in underprivileged communities by providing financial assistance to farmers. According to the Maryland General Assembly’s authorization and funding of the program in 2014, the program was established to provide flexible financing through the Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) Neighborhood BusinessWorks (NBW) program for the start-up, rehabilitation, or expansion of businesses and nonprofits that provide healthy food options, with a particular emphasis on retailers that will source fresh produce from Maryland farmers.
- Applicants must submit a project proposal that is located in a food desert region within the agency’s designated Priority Funding Areas in order to be considered for support.
- The Maryland FFFI will be administered by a designated community-based lending intermediary, which will be selected through a competitive procedure, as detailed below.
- The lending intermediary must be either a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) working in Maryland communities, or a local government or quasi-public agency.
- For the administration of the program, more than one intermediary may be chosen.
- Application for Food Desert Designation, Application for Intermediary Partner, and Application for Fresh Food Financing may be found on the Maryland Fresh Food Financing Initiative website. For a list of current Designated Sustainable Communities, please see this link.
Background Information and Advocacy The Maryland Fresh Food Retail Task Force was formed in December 2011 by Advocates for Children and Youth, the Maryland Retailers Association, and The Food Trust, who brought together leaders from the grocery industry, state and local governments, community development, public health, and civic sectors to serve on the task force. The task group prepared ten public policy recommendations to promote access to nutritious, affordable food retail in underprivileged regions throughout the state.
The need to build a new or extend an existing financing program by giving grants and loans to promote the creation, refurbishment, and extension of grocery stores and other retailers in underprivileged neighborhoods that offer fresh and nutritious food options ranked high on the list of suggestions.
The study sought to gain a better understanding of the extent of supermarket access in Maryland and to identify potential opportunities for healthy food retailers in underserved communities.
- Information about the Background and Positioning Members of the Maryland Fresh Food Retail Task Force were appointed in December 2011 by Advocates for Children and Youth, the Maryland Retailers Association, and The Food Trust, which brought together representatives from the grocery industry, state and local governments, community development, public health, and the civic sector. Ten public policy proposals were created by the task committee to promote access to nutritious, affordable food retail in underprivileged regions across the state. In particular, the need to develop a new or expand an existing financing program by providing grants and loans to support the development, renovation, and expansion of supermarkets and other retail establishments in underserved communities that offer fresh and healthy food options ranked high on the list of recommendations. A market study was requested by the Maryland Department of Health and Human Services (DHCD) in 2013 in response to the task force’s recommendations. The study sought to gain a better understanding of the extent of supermarket access in Maryland and to identify areas of potential for healthy food retailers in underserved communities.
All of these public policy advocacy activities resulted in the Maryland state legislature approving legislation (HB 451) in 2014 that encourages merchants to increase the availability of locally grown fruits and vegetables in impoverished communities. As part of the Neighborhood Business Development Program (NBDP), which is now known as the Maryland Fresh Food Financing Initiative, the bill expanded the purpose of the program to include assisting in the creation of small businesses and other food-related enterprises that provide healthy foods to residents living in food deserts.
Policy Initiatives to Keep an Eye On: The City of Baltimore’s Tax Incentives for Supermarkets The 2015 Food Environment Map and Report, published in June 2015 by theBaltimore Food Policy Initiative and theJohns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, prompted Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Health Commissioner Dr.
City Council unanimously adopted the law in December 2015, which provides 10-year tax incentives to recruit and keep supermarkets in or near designated food desert zones, which were previously authorized by the council.
Markets that are new or in the process of renovation will be eligible for an 80 percent rebate on their personal property taxes for the next ten years.
To discover more about the new measure, check out the following articles:
- The city of Baltimore will offer a significant tax cut in order to attract additional food businesses. The bill focuses on eradicating food deserts in urban areas. Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will propose tax rebates for stores located in food deserts, according to reports.
Policy initiatives to keep an eye on include the City of Baltimore Food Policy Initiative. It is an inter-governmental partnership between the Department of Planning, the Baltimore Office of Sustainability, the Baltimore Development Corporation, and the Baltimore City Health Department that has resulted in the Baltimore Food Policy Initiative (BFPI). The Baltimore Food Policy Initiative (BFPI) was established in 2010 with the goal of “improving health outcomes by enhancing access to nutritious affordable food in Baltimore City’s food deserts.” In collaboration with each agency’s expertise, the BFPI develops comprehensive plans that address food access from a variety of angles, and then executes programs and policies with multi-sector assistance to achieve results.
A healthy carryout plan, local farmer day markets, nutrition and fitness activities, and the coordination of existing health and educational resources in public markets have all been made possible by the BFPI to far.