Minnesota Food and Nutrition Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support for community-based projects in Goodhue County that aim to prevent opioid misuse and promote healthy lifestyles.

This grant provides financial support to individuals, businesses, and organizations in Minnesota to start, modernize, or expand processing operations for meat, poultry, eggs, and milk, with a focus on increasing sales and market access for locally raised livestock products.

The Waste Reduction & Innovation Grant (WRIG) is available to eligible schools, businesses and nonprofits for planning, equipment, supplies and capital improvements that result in the significant reduction of solid waste that the business creates. Donor Name: BizRecycling State: Minnesota County: Ramsey County (MN), Washington County (MN) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/14/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Waste reduction is the most environmentally preferred strategy for managing solid waste. Waste reduction projects eliminate the use of materials that end up being discarded from production and sales processes. Waste reduction projects can take many different forms, including reusing source materials, bulk purchasing, packaging changes, technology enhancements or production redesign. Program Goals The Waste Reduction and Innovation Grant has the following program goals: Increase waste reduction and recycling activities within the business community. Support source specific reduction, recycling, and reuse needs. Provide innovative solutions to waste reduction problems. Support sustainable solutions to ensure growth of on-site efforts by staff and contractual services related to waste reduction and recycling. Support efforts to manage operations higher on the waste management hierarchy as it relates to: waste reduction and reuse activities. market development activities. food recovery and donation. Composting/organics collection. hard to recycle materials/ source separated materials. large business, industrial and college campuses. Priority Areas Impact – Estimated weight in pounds of waste, recycling or organic material that will be reduced or eliminated. Innovation – Implementation of a new idea or technology with clear waste reduction outcomes. Types of Waste  The primary material reduced must be mixed municipal solid waste (MSW). Garbage, refuse and other solid waste from residential, commercial, industrial and community activities that the generator of the waste aggregates for collection. For the purposes of this grant, solid waste includes garbage, refuse or sludges in solid, semisolid, or liquid form. Waste is typically disposed of in garbage, recycling or organics collection systems. Funding Information One-time grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to eligible businesses and nonprofits for planning, equipment, supplies and capital improvements that result in a significant reduction of solid waste that the business creates. Applicants must contribute a 10% cash match of the total project cost. Uses of funds  Equipment & Materials  Industry-specific equipment and supplies that eliminate solid waste from the production process or captures materials for reuse. Infrastructure improvements to enhance industry-specific waste reduction and recycling capabilities. Equipment and supplies that move businesses from disposable items to reusable options. Construction & Infrastructure  Waste, recycling and organics management infrastructure improvements among co-operative businesses located within the same building or business park. Infrastructure improvements to enhance industry-specific waste reduction and recycling capabilities. Research & Development  Industry-specific consultation costs to reduce the creation of solid waste at its source, which is beyond the expertise of R&E consultants. Costs related to the research and development activities of products or services that would significantly reduce solid waste in Ramsey and Washington County. Company must be located within Ramsey or Washington counties. Staff or consultation time to develop environmentally preferable purchasing plans. Staff or consultation time to develop co-operative purchasing groups to leverage access to bulk materials which align with the business’s environmental purchasing plan. Education & Engagement  Staff time to develop an onsite “Green Team.” Production and printing of custom signage, labels and education materials. Eligibility Criteria  Businesses must meet the following criteria: Be one of the following types of businesses: For profit Nonprofit Private college or university Place of worship Schools Ramsey County: Charter schools with less than 250 students and all private schools Washington County: All charter schools and all private schools Must have a permanent physical location in Ramsey or Washington counties of Minnesota. Be in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State and the Minnesota Department of Revenue at time of application. Previous recipients of BizRecycling grants may apply. Applicants must be in compliance with their previous grant contract. Ineligible entities include: Home-based businesses All public entities including federal, state, county and city; public colleges and universities Public K-12 schools in Ramsey County Residential apartment buildings. For more information, visit BizRecycling.

This grant provides financial support to grocery stores and small food retailers in Minnesota to improve their facilities and equipment, making healthy and affordable food more accessible in underserved communities.

This grant provides financial support to small rural hospitals in Minnesota for strategic planning and service transition projects to maintain essential health services in communities with fewer than 15,000 residents.

Special Project grants are made to groups wishing to offer quality arts activities, in any discipline, within the geographic boundaries of the City of Saint Paul. Donor Name: City of Saint Paul State: Minnesota City: Saint Paul Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  05/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Grant requests may include costs for artists and other personnel, postage, supplies, printing, travel and other expenses necessary to carry out the project. Food and beverage are not allowable expenses, and the City will not reimburse expenses related to insurance coverage. The purpose of the Cultural STAR fund is to promote cultural vitality and economic growth, particularly in the downtown Cultural District, by strengthening the arts and culture community. Cultural STAR dollars are intended to: Build and diversify audiences; Promote a broad range of cultural offerings; Produce a long-term impact; and Leverage additional financial support. The Cultural STAR Program will achieve these purposes by making grants for projects and programs that: Attract audiences; Develop and improve cultural facilities; and Build capacity of artists and cultural organizations. Funding Information Estimated Available Funding in 2024: In Cultural District: $796,366 Outside Cultural District, and For-profit businesses with projects in the Cultural District: $199,091 The minimum grant request is $5,000 Project Period Earliest Project Start Date: August 1, 2024 Latest Project End Date: July 31, 2025 Geographic Focus At least 80% of Cultural STAR funds will be awarded to nonprofit organizations that are located within the targeted area known as the Cultural District of downtown Saint Paul. The remaining 20% of funds may be allocated to: Businesses located in the Cultural District for projects that enhance visitor enjoyment of the Cultural District; or Nonprofit organizations located in Saint Paul but outside of the Cultural District. The Cultural District is defined as the geographic area bordered by Interstate 94 to the north, the Lafayette Bridge to the east, Harriet and Raspberry Islands to the south, and Chestnut Road to the west. Located in the Cultural District includes: An organization that is registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State with an address that falls within the Cultural District; or An organization which owns property in the Cultural District for purposes directly related to its Cultural STAR project; or An organization has secured a lease or rental agreement within the Cultural District for the purposes directly related to its Cultural STAR project; or An organization has secured a permit or contract for the use of Public Venues in the Cultural District for the purpose directly related to its Cultural STAR Project. Located in Saint Paul includes: An organization that is registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State with an address that falls within Saint Paul; or An organization that owns property in Saint Paul for purposes directly related to its Cultural STAR project; or An organization that has secured a lease or rental agreement within Saint Paul for the purposes directly related to its Cultural STAR project; or An organization has secured a permit or contract for the use of Public Venues in the Cultural District for the purpose directly related to its Cultural STAR Project. Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants may apply for only one of the following Cultural STAR funding types during each funding round: Special Projects Grant; Organizational Development Grant; or Capital Project Grant. Grants can be received only once per calendar year. Saint Paul-based nonprofit arts and cultural organizations located outside of the Cultural District may apply twice per round and may receive funding up to two times per calendar year – once for projects taking place outside of the Cultural District and once for projects taking place in the Cultural District. Applicant groups must be one of the following: Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that are located within the City of Saint Paul Informal and/or unincorporated arts-focused groups, individuals, and one-time arts projects that have associated with nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that are located within the City of Saint Paul and will serve as a fiscal and contract sponsor, provided that: (1) 100% of the project takes place in the Cultural District; and (2) such nonprofit arts and cultural organization enter into a contract with the City of Saint Paul Businesses in the Cultural District may apply for projects that enhance visitor enjoyment of the District City departments or divisions are eligible when in partnership with, or supported by, an eligible organization The following are not eligible to apply: Churches or religious organizations Political parties and related political action groups Federal, state, and county agencies and departments Organizations (other than those that have associated with informal and/or unincorporated arts-focused groups, individuals, and one-time arts projects, to serve as fiscal and contract sponsor as described in these Guidelines) that have received Organizational Development and/or Special Project grants in three consecutive grant cycles (calendar years) Organizations (other than those that have associated with informal and/or unincorporated arts-focused groups, individuals, and one-time arts projects, to serve as fiscal and contract sponsor as described in these Guidelines) that received funding in the first funding round of the calendar year For more information, visit City of Saint Paul.

Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health (SPRCPH) is offering grants to support activities, programs and initiatives that improve public health issues in the community. Donor Name: Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health (SPRCPH) State: Minnesota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: They must be related to building capacity, planning, developing, implementing or evaluating work designed to address our Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) priorities­­­. CHIP priority areas covered under this grant include: Racial and Health Equity. Healthy Eating, Active Living and Tobacco-Free Living. Access to Health Care Services. Mental Health and Well-being. Violence Prevention. Proposals will be accepted for the following activity categories: Capacity Building examples include start-up costs, resources and supplies, client or community relationship development strategies. Planning and Development examples include community outreach, program design activities, service launch, scoping and refining program or project concept, training. Implementation examples include programs, services and activities related to the identified CHIP priority. Evaluation examples include designing the evaluation, satisfaction surveys, process evaluation (“How much did we do?”), outcome evaluation (“Is anyone better off?”). Funding Information SPRCPH anticipates awarding up to eight grants of up to $30,000, approximately $240,000 in total, to support 12 months of activities. Eligibility Criteria Contractors must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a contract award for this project: Applicants must be an organization registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State or have a relationship with a fiscal agent.  If you use a fiscal agent, you must provide the fiscal agent’s name, contact information, and a letter of support from the fiscal agent. Eligible organizations may receive funding from the Community Innovation Grants for Racial and Health Equity once per calendar year per project. For more information, visit SPRCPH.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to businesses and nonprofit organizations in Hennepin County, Minnesota, to implement projects that prevent waste and promote the use of reusable materials.

The Food Recovery Grant supports programs that recover surplus, edible food from businesses, organizations and/or farmer’s markets for distribution to people in need. Donor Name: BizRecycling State: Minnesota County: Ramsey County (MN), Washington County (MN) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/19/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Recovery Grants are open to businesses (food donors, including food producers, distributors, grocers and cafeterias), nonprofit organizations and college food shelves in Ramsey and Washington counties. Funding Information Grant awards are up to $20,000. Uses of funds  Food Recovery & Donation Materials for food recovery activities, including collection materials (buckets, boxes, bags, etc.) and food mobility equipment (carts, pallets, etc.). Storage costs, including rental and/or equipment purchase. Transportation costs, including vehicle rental. Limited staffing costs related to food recovery/gleaning work. Infrastructure and equipment for use in food recovery and donation efforts. Education & Engagement Staff recycling training (one hour wage per employee). Eligibility Criteria  Applicants must meet the following criteria: Eligible businesses include: Businesses (food donors) Food producers Distributors Grocers Cafeterias Food shelves and banks Colleges (donation and food shelves) Farmers markets Be in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State and the Minnesota Department of Revenue at time of application. All food recovery associated with this grant must take place in Ramsey or Washington counties of Minnesota. For more information, visit BizRecycling.

The Alexandria Area Community Foundation seeks to make grants that will support health and wellness in the Alexandria area – especially for the health needs of people in poverty. Donor Name: Alexandria Area Community Foundation (AACF) State: Minnesota County: Douglas County (MN) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Support Strategies: Operations New or expanded programs/projects. Focus Areas Health: Provide health education to the public to prevent disease Support food nutrition or nutrition education Help people living in isolation to build social connections. Favorable Considerations Create innovative solutions to community challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities Build or support collaborative efforts and involve other community partners such as other nonprofits, government entitles, businesses, and/or citizen groups Make a sustainable positive impact in the community Build social capital (I.e. connectedness) across generations, cultures, and other diverse segments of the community Are highly visible and have the potential to inspire additional investment in the community Projects/Programs that support diversity, equity and inclusion. Funding Information Funding Amount Range: $2,500-$5,000. Geographic Area Grants must serve the residents within Douglas County. Eligibility Criteria  Eligible organizations: 501(c) 3 nonprofit organizations Schools Government entities. For more information, visit AACF.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering the AGRI Value-Added Grant, a reimbursement grant ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, to support value-added businesses such as bioenergy producers and hemp processors in increasing sales of Minnesota agricultural products through investment in equipment, production capacity, market diversification, and market access.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Cardiovascular Health Unit is requesting proposals to connect community and clinical sectors among Minnesota adults especially those from communities disproportionally impacted by cardiovascular disease including Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hmong/Asian American communities, to improve heart health and reduce impacts of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) State: Minnesota County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/12/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: MDH will prioritize grants to organizations that serve communities disproportionally impacted by heart disease including Black/African American, American Indian, and Hmong/Asian American populations. Project proposals will demonstrate how organizations create or enhance existing community clinical linkages to increase referrals to social needs, culturally relevant supports, and/or lifestyle change programs for adults with hypertension, high cholesterol, or other risk of cardiovascular disease. Projects must create or enhance existing community clinical linkage(s) to increase referrals to one or more of the following categories (1, 2 or/and 3) of support for adults in the focus population with hypertension, high cholesterol, or other risk of heart disease: Category 1: Social services and supports that address at least one area where they live, learn, work and play. Category 2: Culturally responsive education and/or support for chronic condition prevention, screening, follow up, and/or self-management. Category 3: Evidence-based lifestyle change programs that address hypertension or high cholesterol. Funding Information Estimated Amount of Awards $60,000 annually. Estimated Annual Award Range $20,000-$60,000. The estimated grant start date is Oct. 1, 2024, and the projected end date is June 30, 2027. Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants may include, but are not limited to: Clinics or healthcare organizations Community-based organizations Community Health Boards/Local Public Health Nonprofit organizations Faith-based organizations Community Health Boards Tribal governments Social service organizations For more information, visit MDH.

This program provides funding and resources to Minnesota residents for creating pollinator-friendly gardens in their outdoor spaces to support at-risk pollinators.

This grant provides financial support to Minnesota produce farmers for improving their on-farm food safety practices through eligible expenses related to food safety systems.

The Great Rivers United Way is offering a Basic Needs Community Investment Grant of $10,000 to $100,000 for programs and projects in Wisconsin that provide food, shelter, and safety, prioritizing collaborative, successful, innovative, and BIPOC-led initiatives, with applications due by October 4, 2024.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, schools, and community groups in the Mille Lacs Lake Watershed area to support projects focused on environmental stewardship, economic vitality, sustainable farming, and community pride.

This funding opportunity supports 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations in Hubbard County, Minnesota, that provide essential community services focused on youth education, financial stability, and health, with grants ranging from $500 to $5,000.

This funding opportunity supports community initiatives in Minnesota that aim to improve awareness, early diagnosis, and culturally competent care for Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias, particularly among underserved populations such as BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those living in Greater Minnesota.

This grant provides financial support to Black entrepreneurs who are positively impacting their communities, helping them grow and sustain their businesses.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for arts projects that improve accessibility and engage the community in the five-county area of Beltrami, Hubbard, Clearwater, Lake of the Woods, and Mahnomen, Minnesota.