Funding Sources For Healthy Food Retail : Category - Rural-specific

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG)

Rural Business Opportunity Grants are aimed at promoting sustainable economic development in rural communities, which includes supporting technical assistance for rural businesses and training for rural entrepreneurs or economic development officials. Activities funded by the RBOG include real estate acquisition, building construction, and development. The maximum grant amount for projects serving one state is $50,000, or $150,000 for those serving two or more states.

Eligibility:

Applicants must be public entities, nonprofit corporations, Indian tribes, or cooperatives with primarily rural members.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program (RCDG)

RCD grants are awarded to improve the economic condition of rural areas by helping to establish and support cooperatives. In 2007, more than $3.5 million was awarded to 19 grantees. The maximum grant amount is $300,000, and recipients must contribute at least 25 percent of total project costs.

Eligibility:

Nonprofit corporations, including institutions of higher education, are eligible.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Rural Development Value-Added Agriculture Producer Grants (VAPG)

VAPG may fund one of two activities: (1) developing feasibility studies or business plans (including marketing plans) to establish a viable value-added marketing opportunity for an agricultural product; or (2) acquiring working capital to operate a value-added business venture or an alliance that will allow agricultural producers to better compete in markets. Farmers' markets often sell value-added products as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, and add value to producer goods by providing a direct market for these products.

Eligibility:

Independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures are eligible.

Project Example:

Milwaukee, Wisconsin: The Rainbow Farmer's Cooperative
The cooperative received $150,000 to develop a business marketing plan to support an innovative value-added venture that works with socially disadvantaged and limited resource producers by providing an alternative outlet for fresh and healthy food to urban and rural markets.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Rural Housing and Economic Development (RHED) Program

RHED grants are targeted at economic development and innovative housing strategies in rural areas. Two types of funding are available through this program:

Eligibility:

Local rural nonprofit groups, community development corporations (CDCs), federally recognized Indian tribes, state housing finance agencies (HFAs), and state community or economic development agencies are eligible for these grants.

Project Example:

Pendleton, Oregon: Mission Market
In 2001 the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation received a RHED grant of $400,000 to construct and operate a $983,600 grocery.

Podcasts: Rebuilding Healthier Neighborhoods

Watch our series of four podcast stories that show how redevelopment can help make communities healthier. This series, available through HealthyPlanning.org or iTunes, brings to life how the redevelopment process helped advance public health, improving local air quality and making parks and healthy food more accessible.

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