Farm Bill

Local Food Funding Opportunities Abound

April 30, 2019

A busy Ohio farmers' market

OEFFA worked with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) to provide long-term and permanent funding for local food programs and we won! The final farm bill included the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) which provides funding for the Farmers’ Market and Local Food Promotion Programs (FMLFPP), as well as the Value-Added Producer Grant program and more.

In April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the availability of $23 million in funding for the FMLFPP which includes two programs, the Farmers’ Market Promotion Program and the Local Food Promotion Program.

The deadline for both programs this year is June 18, 2019, and applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov.

You can find more information about these two programs and the types of projects that have been funded here.

Farmers’ Market Promotion Program

FMPP supports projects that have a direct farmer-to-consumer focus, such as: farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture programs, roadside farm stands, pick-your-own operations, and agritourism.

FMPP will continue to offer two distinct types of grants: 1) Capacity Building (CB) and 2) Community Development, Training and Technical Assistance (CTA) projects. There are no changes to the size of the maximum and minimum award from last year. For CB projects, the minimum award is $50,000 and the maximum award is $250,000. For CTA projects, the minimum grant award is $250,000 and maximum award level is $500,000. The program now requires a 25 percent cash or in-kind match.

The maximum duration for both FMPP CB projects and CTA projects is 36 months; projects are expected to begin on September 30, 2019, and be completed by September 29, 2022. The FY 2019 Request for Applications for FMPP can be found here, and general information about FMPP can be found here.

Local Food Promotion Program

LFPP seeks to develop and expand local and regional food business enterprises to increase access to locally produced foods and develop new market opportunities for local producers. LFPP supports projects including, but not limited to: processing, distribution, aggregation, and storage and marketing of locally or regionally produced food products sold through intermediated marketing channels.

LFPP will continue to offer two types of grants: 1) planning grants and 2) implementation grants. There are no changes to the size of the maximum and minimum awards from last year. Planning Grants provide a minimum award of $25,000 and a maximum of $100,000. Implementation Grants have a minimum award of $100,000 and a maximum of $500,000. The program also requires a 25 percent cash or in-kind match.

Planning project grants have an award period of up to 18 months and are expected to begin on September 30, 2019, and be completed by March 31, 2021. Implementation project grants can be awarded for up to 36 months and are expected to begin on September 30, 2019, and be completed by September 29, 2022. The FY 2019 Request for Applications for LFPP can be found here, and additional information about the program can be found here.

Community Food Projects Funding

The National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is now accepting applications for two specific types of food system grants under this program: Community Food Projects and Planning Projects.

The goal of this program is 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 their food needs;
  • Promote comprehensive responses to local food access, farm, and nutrition issues; and
  • Meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs including needs relating to: (1) equipment necessary for the efficient operation of a project, (2) planning for long-term solutions, or (3) the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Time on June 3, 2019. Find more information and application details here.