USDA Announces $9 Million to Support Community Food Projects
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EmailOn February 15, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced the availability of $9 million in funding to assist low-income individuals and communities in developing local and independent food systems.
On February 15, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the availability of $9 million in funding to assist low-income individuals and communities in developing local and independent food systems. NIFA is funding the grants through the Community Food Projects program (CFP), authorized by the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill).
Grants are intended to help eligible, private, nonprofit entities in need of a one-time installment of federal assistance to establish and carry out multipurpose community food projects. Projects are funded from $10,000 to $300,000 and up to 36 months. All grants require a dollar-for-dollar match in resources.
Applications are due March 17, 2015. Specific program requirements can be found on the request for applications.
The primary goals of the Community Food Projects program are to
- meet the food needs of low-income individuals
- increase the food self-reliance of low-income communities
- promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm and nutrition issues
- meet specific state, local or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs relating to infrastructure improvement and development, planning for long-term solutions and the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.
Since 2009, NIFA has provided more than $28 million to 154 Community Food Project awards in 48 states to help communities improve access to healthy, local food. A list of some of the past grantees and their projects can be found here.
Logo courtesy www.usda.gov.
