Grants for City or township governments - Food and Nutrition

This program provides financial guarantees to support local governments and developers in revitalizing underutilized properties and stimulating economic growth in communities across the Commonwealth.

The Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) Program seeks to ensure that farmers, commercial fishermen, and other local food producers are better engaged with a strong, resilient food system to help mitigate food supply and distribution disruptions, as well as to ensure that individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth have equitable access to food, with a focus on food that is produced locally. Donor Name: Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources State: Massachusetts County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/02/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Projects to enhance equitable access to food for individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth, with a focus on food that is produced locally. The FSIG program (“Program”) also seeks to ensure that farmers, fisherman, and other local food producers are better connected to markets in a strong, resilient food system, and that they have the infrastructure needed to produce and distribute healthy food efficiently and safely. Providing greater, more equitable access to local food and strengthening the role of local food in the Commonwealth’s food system is an important goal of the Program. Local food is defined through this Program as food which is grown/produced and distributed within the Commonwealth. The local food system is a network of consumers, workers, businesses, owners, and supporting organizations engaged in an array of activities, including fishing, farming, preparing, marketing, distributing, serving, and eating food. This network works to produce and distribute food that nourishes the communities, sustains businesses and workers, and supports responsible stewardship of the land, water, and other natural resources. Funding Information Part I: Agriculture Maximum funding per applicant $500,000. Part II: Local Food System Maximum funding per applicant $500,000. Grant Period July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Eligible Projects  Eligible projects must be capital improvements including the purchase of equipment and contracted labor costs in order to implement projects, or costs associated with planning and design directly related to capital projects that will allow applicants to strengthen and improve the resiliency of the Commonwealth’s food system while allowing greater access to fresh, local food in a way that addresses systemic inequities. Eligibility Criteria  Applicants may be individuals, for-profit, or non-profit entities. Municipalities and other governmental entities may also be eligible to apply, provided all necessary requirements to submit an application can be met, the ability to utilize funding can be demonstrated, and the entity has the ability to enter into a contract with MDAR. For more information, visit MDAR.

The Massachusetts Food Ventures Program (MFVP) is designed to increase access to healthy, affordable food options and improve economic opportunities for low to moderate income communities. Donor Name: Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources State: Massachusetts County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/06/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The MFVP will provide funding through grants to support food ventures, sited primarily in or near communities of low or moderate income, including Gateway Cities and rural communities. The MFVP will help implement goals of the Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan and contribute to the financing needs of local Massachusetts food enterprises.  With expanded investment, completed projects will improve access to Massachusetts grown, harvested or caught food products through the development of collaborations with local agricultural enterprises and private/public entities. Key areas for investment include: food processing infrastructure to meet the needs of the expanding local food system; improved distribution systems to support opportunities for equitable access to fresh local food; and retail outlet strategies that enhance access to healthy food. The following are examples of potential, eligible Food Ventures projects Food Processing Infrastructure – Creation of commercial food processing infrastructure to ensure availability of Massachusetts produced foods and which can benefit low and moderate income households. Non Retail: Food Commissaries – Innovative proposals by commercial food commissaries that connect local farms and partners, create new local food retail markets or improve marketing within low income communities. Proposals may include requests for support for infrastructure, distribution, processing and marketing plans that demonstrate increased access to low to moderate income communities. Food Co-Ops – Proposals for construction, renovation or build-out of existing facilities that will create new permanent jobs and/or  greater access to affordable, fresh food. Greenhouses and Farmers’ markets – Develop and build facilities designed to increase year round access of diverse food production and distribution to existing or new markets to benefit low to moderate income communities. Food Hubs – Capital for infrastructure to build or renovate sites for new or existing ventures that improve commercial food access in low to moderate income communities. Commercial Markets – Innovative projects that connect local food producers and partners in order to develop, build or renovate a large scale retail market, designed to improve commercial distribution of healthy, locally produced food. Proposals may include initiatives for new construction or the renovation of an existing building. Must clearly document a community demand and outline a marketing strategy for expansion of commercial food access and distribution in low to moderate income areas. Mobile Markets/Innovative Markets – To purchase, design, and upgrade vehicles to provide healthy Massachusetts food including meats, seafood, vegetables, and fresh or frozen produce for purchase. Must provide marketing strategy that demonstrates the expansion of commercial access and distribution in low to moderate income communities. Who May Apply? Massachusetts Municipalities. Massachusetts Non-Profit or For-Profit Organizations. Individual Residents of Massachusetts. Examples of ineligible project areas: Funding for audits, feasibility studies or design work. Operation or maintenance costs associated with the proposed grant investment. Staff or consultant time on proposals for projects that have already been completed or for which the applicant seeks reimbursement. For more information, visit MDAR.

This program provides affordable funding to rural public bodies, non-profits, and tribes to develop essential community facilities like healthcare, education, and public safety services in areas with populations under 20,000.

Applications are now being accepted for the Creating New Work Grant Program. Donor Name: Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation State: Connecticut City and Town: Selected Cities and Towns Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: Initiated in 2003, the foundation offers a special grant program designed to: Foster creativity in Greater Hartford by supporting local artists in the creation of new work. Foster collaborations between artists and arts organizations that benefit the artist, the organization and the community. Further the foundation’s mission to support and encourage excellence in the arts in Hartford and the immediately surrounding community. Grant Period The artist(s) must complete their project within 24 months of the grant award. Geographical Areas CNW is designed to support local artists. To be eligible, all artists affiliated with the project must primarily live or work on their art in: Hartford, Avon, Berlin, Bloomfield, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor, Ellington, Farmington, Glastonbury, Manchester, New Britain, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, South Windsor, Vernon, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, and Windsor Locks. Who may apply? 501(c)(3) arts organizations in the foundation’s geographic giving area. The foundation gives priority to requests from organizations in the following cities and towns in Connecticut: Hartford, Bloomfield, East Hartford, Newington, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor. Artists may not apply directly to the foundation but must seek out a partnering organization in the foundation’s geographic giving area. Organizations may apply for either the Creation of New Work grant or an Excellence in the Arts grant within a calendar year.  Should an organization’s Creation of New Work application be declined, it may apply for an Excellence in Arts grant in a subsequent cycle. Criteria for Selection Projects are judged on the following criteria: artistic excellence and potential of the project to advance the artist(s)’s work quality of the collaboration between the artist(s) and the organization potential impact on the benefit to the community The organization must demonstrate a clear plan for working with the artist(s) and be able to articulate the project’s benefit to the organization and the community. The sponsoring organization and artist must submit a post-grant report within six months of the close of the project. For more information, visit ECATRF.

The City of Seaside Visitors Bureau invites funding requests from businesses and organizations that produce tourism projects, programs or events designed to increase overnight visits to the area, especially in the shoulder and winter months. Donor Name: City of Seaside Visitors Bureau State: Oregon City: Seaside Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/03/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The goal of Seaside’s Tourism Grant Program is to support and coordinate event development to ensure that Seaside can meet or exceed visitor expectations as a tourism destination and derive the greatest possible economic impact from visitor spending. Funding priority is given to projects and events that occur during the shoulder seasons and winter months with a strong potential for creating local room nights. No more than $3,000 will be granted to projects happening between Memorial Day and Labor Day (with the exception of July 4th fireworks funding, which City leaders typically earmark as a “signature Seaside event”). Funding Information Up to $25,000. Project Period Projects or events to be completed between July 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025. Grant Projects Below is a sample list of grant projects. Actual projects are not limited to only what is listed below. All projects must generate overnight stays in Seaside or have the potential to generate overnight stays. Events, festivals or activities that accentuate and/or complement Seaside. Development assistance to non-profit or government-owned visitor attractions. Development projects by “for profit” businesses and organizations may be considered, but not for brick-and-mortar types of projects or any programs that duplicate City marketing efforts. Eligibility Criteria Non-profit organizations and businesses with a project or event that promotes local tourism attractions and has a strong potential to create overnight stays for commercial lodging properties in Seaside are eligible to apply. Activities Not Eligible for Funding The following is a partial list of activities that are not eligible for consideration. Grant funds to cover general administrative costs. Grant funds to cover operational expenses. Commercial or for-profit orgs seeking funds for capital improvements or projects. Projects promoting tourism outside the Seaside area. Applicants who did not complete the required reports in previous year. Award requests for more than $5,000.00 (or $3,000 in the high tourism season.). Used as a match for other City of Seaside funding awards. For more information, visit  City of Seaside Visitors Bureau.

The City of Vancouver is requesting applications for its Community and Neighborhood Grants. Donor Name: City of Vancouver State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: All Time Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Community and Neighborhood Grants Program supports local efforts to:  Build and strengthen community connections  Encourage partnerships between groups  Empower residents to take meaningful action in their community. Funding Information The grant program offers two levels of funding:  Level One Microgrants Up to $500 to support smaller-scale projects and events such as block parties, picnics, carnivals, cultural and community celebrations, education events, or arts activities. Up to $40,000 is available for Level One Microgrants.  Level Two Grants Up to $10,000 to support larger-scale projects and ongoing programs. These could include after-school, educational or youth sports programs, ongoing arts programs, neighborhood beautification, safety improvements, food assistance programs and any manner of programs aimed at improving equity, accessibility and inclusion in historically underserved parts of Vancouver. Up to $160,000 is available for Level Two Grants.  Uses of funds  Grant funds can be used to pay for:  Materials, supplies or equipment used for an event, project or program  Event rental fees  Insurance policies  Food or nonalcoholic beverages Professional services, such as translation, interpretation, facilitation, design, art, printing, advertising, etc.  Eligibility Criteria  Groups that are working to support community-building within the Vancouver city limits or urban growth area are eligible to apply. Eligible organizations include:  Nonprofits  Community-based organizations  Neighborhood associations  Clubs  Parent-teacher groups such as PTA, PTO and PTSA Groups  Informal groups, partnerships or collaboratives  The following organizations are not eligible to apply:  Government agencies (including county agencies, schools or special districts)  For-profit businesses  Political organizations  Ineligibility  Grant funds cannot be used to pay for:  Purchase of real property  Utility bills  Salaries for staff  Alcohol, marijuana or any illegal substances  Political activities  Fundraising events  Events that cost money to attend. For more information, visit City of Vancouver.

City of Ashland Business Beautification Grant Program 2023 – Oregon: The City of Ashland is offering the Business Beautification Grant to support private investment in renovating and rehabilitating existing lodging and commercial properties within Ashland City limits. The grant provides financial assistance through a fifty percent (50%) grant match to non-residential property owners for exterior cosmetic improvements, outdoor lighting upgrades, code violation alleviation, sidewalk and infrastructure installation, signage or awning installation, landscaping, outdoor seating installation, and removal of non-conforming or illegal site elements. Eligible applicants must be current property owners or tenants of non-residentially developed properties within City limits with no outstanding debt to the City. All beautification activities must comply with City building and zoning codes and be performed by a licensed general contractor or service provider. Applicants are required to submit a minimum of two quotes for the project and adhere to all building and land use codes as applicable. More information is available on the City of Ashland website.

The Rockland Small Businesses Rescue Grant Program in New York offers funding to small businesses and micro-enterprises in Rockland County that have experienced revenue declines or unexpected operating cost deficits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible businesses include indoor arts, entertainment, and recreation; pet grooming, boarding, and walking; restaurants, eateries, food stands and trucks, bars, bakeries, cafes, breweries/wineries catering, delis; bookstores/stationary; housekeeping; fitness centers; florists; general retail; salons/spas; bicycle shops; and other consumer service firms. The grant covers expenses such as commercial or retail rent reimbursement (up to 3 months with no arrears), safety investments (PPE, cleaning supplies, UV disinfection equipment or services), hardware and software fees, credit card processing fees (difference of % increase), carriage fees, marketing fees (advertising and promotion), business enterprise certification fees, and operational supplies.

The grant application is for activities such as historic resources survey, National Register nominations, preservation planning, design guidelines, information/education projects, historic structures reports, conditions assessment reports, structural assessment reports, preservation plans, architectural drawings, and specifications. Cemetery projects such as cemetery resource/monument surveys, groundpenetrating radar surveys, preservation plans, master plans, or conditions assessment reports are also eligible. This grant application also supports physical “bricks and mortar” rehabilitation activities for historic sitespecific buildings, structures, monuments, and places, including cemeteries and parks. Development project applications must provide the following three items to be considered eligible for HPF grant funding: a legal description of the property, listing in the National Register of Historic Places, and previous documentation of predevelopment/planning activities associated with the resource. At the completion of a development project, a preservation agreement or covenant is required for the property

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) is issuing this Request for Proposals to provide critical economic and workforce development resources to support San Francisco’s residents, businesses, visitors, and workers. Donor Name: Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) State: California County: San Francisco County (CA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/16/2024 Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million Grant Duration: 5-10 Years Details: This RFP includes four (4) distinct program areas and the total amount of funding anticipated for initial grant awards is $2.38 million. The funding in this RFP supports programs delivered through three OEWD divisions: Business Development Community Economic Development (formerly Invest In Neighborhoods) Workforce Development. Funding Areas  Community Economic Development Programs Castro cultural activation, uplifting Queer and Transgender Asian American and Pacific Islander communities: $30,000. Workforce Development Programs Industries of Opportunity- Worker Coorperative Program: $950,000 ($425k per program year). Industries of Opportunity- Youth and Young Adult Food Sovereignty: $400,000 ($200k per program year). Business Development Programs Union Square Park Programming: $1,000,000. Grant Period Unless otherwise noted, successful proposals are expected to be funded for up to six (6) years, concluding no later than June 2030. Eligibility Criteria You are eligible to apply if you: Are a nonprofit 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) organization, registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and in good standing with State of California’s Registry of Charitable Trusts and the California Secretary of State (SOS), the Franchise Tax Board, and eligible to do business with the City and County of San Francisco. Are not debarred or suspended from participation in local, State or Federal programs; Can comply with all local, state or federal laws and regulations if funded. For more information, visit OEWD.

The Summer Meals Capacity-Building Mini-Grants program seeks to increase the number of children and youth in the City of Rochester receiving summer meals and the number of days meals are served. Donor Name: Rochester Area Community Foundation State: New York City: Rochester Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/17/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Summer Meals program is federally funded and designed to provide food to youth when the regular school year is not in session. The program serves youth 18 and under who are in programs that serve, or are located near, a school with at least 50% free and reduced meals eligibility rates. The City of Rochester is designated a high-need area, making all youth in the city eligible for summer meals. The Summer Meals program (officially the Summer Food Service Program) is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service. Proposals may include requests for one or more of the following: A Summer Meals Volunteer Coordinator or supplemental staff to increase the Summer Meals site’s capacity to serve additional children and/or to extend the number of days of meal service. One-time capital purchases to increase the capacity of the Summer Meals site to serve additional children and/or extend the number of days of meal service. Examples include purchase of tables, chairs, and coolers. Examples can be found here: Refrigeration and dining, Equipment One-time capital purchase of equipment or supplies that will encourage physical activity and fun, thus increasing the capacity of the provider to serve additional summer meals as more youth may be enticed to participate. Categories  Children  Equity  Youth  Funding Information Up to $15,000. Eligibility Criteria All applicants must be an approved partner of one of the three main Summer Meals sponsors in Rochester (the City of Rochester, Rochester City School District, or Foodlink) for meal delivery, or maintains its own LEA status with NYSED for Summer Meal sponsorship; AND An organization, church, or government entity that has previously provided reimbursable Summer Meals through the New York State Department of Education under the Summer Food Service Program in the City of Rochester; OR A 501(c)(3) organization or 509(a)(1) public organization Previous Summer Meals Mini-Grant recipients are eligible to reapply, but priority may be given to organizations that have not received Summer Meals Mini-Grants in the past. For more information, visit RACF.