Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) through its Division of Family and Community Services, aims to enhance the nutritional health of low-income seniors in the City of Chicago. Funded by federal sources under CFDA numbers 10.576 and 93.667, the program facilitates access to fresh, nutritious, and locally grown produce for individuals aged 60 and above, whose income does not exceed 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. This initiative supports the expansion and accessibility of local farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community-supported agriculture operations, while also contributing to broader goals of food security, community wellness, and agricultural sustainability. This funding opportunity is structured as a competitive grant, with a minimum award amount of $13,500 anticipated for a single grantee. The program intends to serve approximately 12,000 eligible seniors within the service area of Chicago. Eligible applicants must have a physical presence in Cook County and demonstrate the capacity to immediately serve the identified caseload upon receipt of the award. Applicants must also show experience in coordinating nutrition benefit programs, including issuing benefits, outreach, nutrition education, and compliance with federal program regulations. Strong organizational, financial, and reporting systems are essential, along with the ability to track and prevent dual participation in real-time. Grant funds can be used to support various allowable activities, such as application intake, eligibility verification, training of issuing partners, outreach efforts, distribution of nutrition education materials, and data collection. Indirect costs are permitted, but restrictions apply: grantees must have a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or elect the de minimis rate of 15% to receive reimbursement. Pre-award costs are allowable under the governing federal and state cost principles. Equipment purchases or facility improvements, however, are unallowable expenses. Sub-recipient agreements are permitted but must be pre-approved by the Department and remain under the primary grantee’s monitoring and responsibility. The grant application window is open from February 20, 2026, to April 10, 2026, at 12:00 PM CST. Interested applicants must submit a complete application electronically, which includes a signed Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance, Grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure, W-9 form, proposal narrative (executive summary, needs assessment, organizational capacity, and program quality sections), budget with narrative, and the SFMNP Application Checklist. Submission must be made via email to [email protected] and budgets must also be entered into the Illinois CSA system. No preliminary application materials such as letters of intent are required. Applications will be reviewed through a merit-based process, with evaluations weighted heavily on capacity (40 points), quality of program design (30 points), need (20 points), and executive summary and budget narrative (5 points each). Applicants must be prequalified and in good standing with the State of Illinois, including registration in the GATA portal, active SAM.gov registration, and compliance with various state and federal lists (e.g., Stop Payment, Medicaid Sanctions). The grant period will begin no earlier than July 1, 2026, and continue through June 30, 2027, with potential for up to two one-year renewals based on performance and available funding. This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372 and does not require intergovernmental review. While the anticipated award date is yet to be determined, selected applicants will first receive a Notice of State Award (NOSA) through the GATA Grantee Portal. Performance reporting, financial reporting, and race/ethnicity demographic data submissions are required quarterly. A close-out report must be submitted no later than 15 days after the grant period ends. Any questions about the opportunity should be directed to Melanie Kluzek, the program administrator, at [email protected] or by phone at 217-720-9111.

Submit early and ensure all attachments are included—no contact will be made for incomplete applications.