Fresh Food Financing Initiative

Donor Name: The Food Trust State: Pennsylvania County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 11/01/2024 Size of the Grant: Up to $50,000 for most projects, and up to $150,000 for high-impact projects Grant Duration: Not specified Details/Overview: Applications are now open for the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative (PAFFFI), a statewide public-private financing program aimed at helping business owners open or expand healthy grocery outlets in communities across Pennsylvania. Administered by The Food Trust in partnership with Pennsylvania-based community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), PAFFFI provides one-time grants and loans to nonprofit, for-profit, and cooperative food businesses. The initiative focuses on increasing access to healthy, affordable food and improving economic opportunities for low- to moderate-income residents in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the state. Most projects are eligible for up to $50,000 in funding, with high-impact projects qualifying for up to $150,000. The project must be located in an area that is low-to-moderate income, meaning it’s either in a census tract with a Median Family Income of up to 80% of Area Median Income, or a poverty rate of 20% or higher. The area must also be underserved by fresh food retail, so there can’t be other similar fresh food markets or grocery stores already within its trade area.