Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program

The primary goals of the CFPCGP are as follows (7 U.S.C. § 2034(B)):

1. Designed to:

• Meet the food needs of low-income individuals through food distribution, community outreach to assist in participation in Federally assisted nutrition programs, or improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service;
• Increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities; and
• Promote comprehensive responses to local food access, farm, and nutrition issues; or

2. Meet specific state, local or neighborhood food and agricultural needs including needs relating to:

• Equipment necessary for the efficient operation of a project;
• Planning for long-term solutions; or
• The creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

Community Food Projects are intended to bring together stakeholders from the distinct parts of the food system and to foster understanding of national food security trends and how they might improve local food systems. The CFPCGP RFA ; aligns with the USDA Strategic Plan, specifically Goal 4, Facilitate Rural Prosperity and Economic Development. NIFA is soliciting applications for the CFPGP under the following areas:

1. Community Food Projects (CFP), and
2. Planning Projects (PP)

Expires: June 3, 2019 by 5 p.m. ET

NIFA requests applications for the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPCGP) for fiscal year (FY) 2019. The anticipated amount available for NIFA in FY 2019 is approximately $4,800,000.

Applicants for CFP and PP must meet the eligibility in this section. Public food program service providers, tribal organizations, or private nonprofit entities, including gleaners (see Definition in Part VIII E of this RFA), meeting the following four requirements are eligible to receive a CFP or PP award:

1. They must have experience in the area of:

• Community food work, particularly concerning small and medium-size farms, including the provision of food to people in low-income communities and the development of new markets in low-income communities for agricultural producers;
• Job training and business development activities for food-related activities in low-income communities; or
• Efforts to reduce food insecurity in the community, including food distribution, improving access to services, or coordinating services and programs;

2. Demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation;

3. Demonstrate a willingness to share information with researches, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties, including a plan for dissemination of results; and

4. Collaborate with one or more local partner organizations to achieve at least hunger-free communities goal. (See Steps for a Hunger-Free Community).

Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of application deadline may result in the application being excluded from consideration or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude NIFA from making an award