Community Food Project

In FY 2019, NIFA's CFP intends to solicit applications and fund two types of grants. The types are entitled (1) Community Food Projects (CFP) and (2) Planning Projects (PP). The primary goals of the CFP are 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; Promote comprehensive responses to local food access, farm, and nutrition...

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: a. They must have experience in the area of: 1) 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; 2) job training and business development activities for food-related activities in low-income communities; or 3) efforts to reduce food insecurity in the community, including food distribution, improving access to services, or coordinating services and programs; b. demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation; c. demonstrate a willingness to share information with researches, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties, including a plan for dissemination of results; and d. 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. 2. Partners and Collaborators Applicants for CFP and PP awards are encouraged to seek and create partnerships with public or private, nonprofit or for-profit entities, including links with academic institutions (including minority-serving colleges and universities), and/or other appropriate professionals, community-based organizations, and local government entities. Only the applicant must meet the eligibility requirements. Project partners and collaborators need not meet the eligibility requirements. When planning collaborations, see Part III, B of this RFA. Award recipients may subaward to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the successful completion of the project. See Part IV D of this RFA, Funding Restrictions. Fiscal Agent: If an institution/organization cannot accept Federal funds directly, a letter must be included in the application stating that in the event the application results in an award, the award funds must be administered through a fiscal agent organization on their behalf. This agent must be identified in the letter from the applicant and the letter must be countersigned by an authorized representative of the fiscal agent organization. The letter should include the fiscal agent’s point of contact, address, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address. This letter is to be included as an attachment to Field 12, Other Attachments (Part IV.B.3.c.). In the event an application is recommended for funding, NIFA will request that both the applicant school or institution/organization and the fiscal agent organization submit complete management information (see Part V, D.). Applications may only be submitted by public food program service providers, tribal organizations, or private nonprofit entities, including gleaners. A letter stating the non-profit status must be included with the application. Failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the 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. For those new to Federal financial assistance, a grants overview page is available on the NIFA website. This page includes information about free Grants 101 Training and other resources that are highly recommended for those seeking an understanding of Federal awards.

NIFA Help Desk Phone: 202-401-5048 Business hours are M-F, 7:00 am -5:00 pm ET, excluding Federal holidays