Oklahoma Healthy Food Financing Program

The Oklahoma Healthy Food Financing Program is administered by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) through its Economic Development and Agriculture Markets division. This state-administered grant and loan initiative is designed to address food access disparities in underserved communities, particularly those with predominantly low- or moderate-income populations. The overarching goal of the program is to incentivize and enable food retailers to establish or enhance operations that improve the availability of nutritious, perishable foods such as fresh produce, dairy, meats, and other staples. The program allows applicants to pursue funding either in the form of grants or loans. Grant awards are specifically capped at $10,000 per project, while loan proposals are not subject to a maximum dollar limit. This bifurcated funding structure provides flexibility in how projects are financed and encourages a range of applicants to participate, from small-scale grocers to larger infrastructure developers. Eligible projects include new construction of grocery stores or small food retailers, as well as renovation, expansion, or infrastructure upgrades to existing establishments. All proposed improvements must aim to increase access to fresh, healthy food options. Participation in the program comes with several requirements that ensure alignment with its public health and economic development goals. Approved applicants must commit to accepting federal and state nutrition assistance programs, including SNAP and WIC. They must also allocate at least 30 percent of their retail space to perishable food items such as fresh produce, dairy, meat, poultry, and fish. Furthermore, awardees are expected to hire local residents and comply with data collection protocols outlined by ODAFF. The program is open to a wide range of applicants, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, community development entities, universities, and government agencies. This broad eligibility criterion reflects the program’s emphasis on inclusivity and its intent to support varied community-based solutions to food access challenges. The program does not specify any geographic restriction beyond its operation within the state of Oklahoma. Application deadlines occur quarterly, on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year. If any of these dates fall on a day when state offices are closed, the deadline rolls over to the next regular business day. Applicants are required to download and complete an application form, along with a Supplement A document, from the program’s website. Submission instructions are not detailed in the available documentation but are presumably outlined within the downloadable forms. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Jason Harvey, a representative with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, at [email protected] or 405-606-1477, for further information or clarification. The recurring quarterly deadlines and consistent program structure suggest a stable opportunity for eligible entities to engage in improving food systems within Oklahoma.