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Funding Sources For Healthy Food Retail : Category - Technical Assistance

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Agricultural Marketing Services Program (AMS)

The Agricultural Marketing Services' Farmers' Market Promotion Program (FMPP) offers grants to help improve and expand domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. Approximately $1 million was allocated for 2007, with the amount awarded for any one proposal not to exceed $75,000.

Eligibility: 

Entities eligible to apply include agricultural cooperatives, local governments, nonprofit corporations, public health corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers' market authorities, and tribal governments.

Project Example: 

Davis, California: Farmers' Market Foundation
In 2006, the FMPP awarded $41,800 to the Davis Farmers' Market Foundation to create new marketing opportunities for vendors through an innovative partnership with the Davis Joint Unified School District.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Community Food Projects (CFP) Grant Program

The Community Food Projects Grants Program offers grants and technical assistance to community organizations to support entrepreneurial projects, develop innovative linkages between the for-profit and nonprofit food sectors, and encourage long-term planning activities and interagency approaches. Projects are funded between $10,000 and $300,000 on a one- to three-year grant cycle. Since 1996, CFP has funded 211 projects for a total of more than $31 million.

Eligibility: 

Nonprofits may apply for these onetime grants to establish community food projects.  Project funding requires a dollar-for-dollar match in resources from grantees.

Project Example: 

Los Angeles: The Farmer's Kitchen
CFP funds helped create a teaching and retail kitchen supporting education programs that emphasize fresh produce consumption, job training, and food and nutrition education targeted toward Hollywood's low-income population. The Farmer's Kitchen is a project of Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles (SEE-LA).

San Francisco: The Bayview Community Farmers' Market
This farmers' market received $130,000 for a three year project to increase the frequency of market days and to expand the scope and selection of products offered. Outreach to promote the market will focus on low-income populations, particularly food stamp and WIC program recipients.

 

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 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 Commerce

Economic Development Administration (EDA)

The Economic Development Association provides grants to communities to leverage commercial and industrial investment and job creation. It is designed to serve rural and urban areas experiencing high unemployment, low income, or other indicators of severe economic distress. The EDA has several grant programs that could support food retail projects.

Project Example: 

Mendocino County, California: Round Valley Indian Tribes Retail Project
The EDA awarded $437,000 for construction of a retail establishment to serve the Round Valley Indian Tribes, creating new jobs and generating private investment in excess of $1 million.

 

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.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Rather than offering grants, the Small Business Administration serves as guarantor of a variety of loans available to small businesses. The SBA also provides a range of services, including contract opportunities, counseling, and legal assistance. The SBA's primary lending program, the 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program, has a maximum amount of $2 million available to small businesses.

Eligibility: 

Small businesses (as defined by the SBA) may apply for these services. The SBA also has special assistance programs for women- and minority-owned businesses.

Project Example: 

Harlem, New York: Bravo Supermarket
The first black-owned supermarket in Harlem opened in the late 1990s with loan approval assistance from the SBA.

 

University of California at Davis

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP)

SAREP supports scientific research and education on agricultural and food systems that are economically viable, conserve natural resources and biodiversity, and enhance the quality of life in the state's communities. Grants are designed to promote two objectives:

Eligibility: 

Grants are targeted to University of California Cooperative Extension advisors and directors. Collaboration with scientists, California graduate students, farmers, ranchers, community groups, nonprofit organizations or public agencies is strongly encouraged.

Project Example: 

West Oakland, California: Food Security Council Model Program
In 2001 SAREP awarded $15,000 to the West Oakland Food Collaborative to develop a comprehensive food system plan aimed at implementing food security strategies, providing access to healthy foods and revitalizing the community. This project enabled the organization to create a development plan and leverage additional funding for the expansion and development of a farmers' market, a cooperatively owned grocery, corner store conversions, community green space, and the growth and development of community-based businesses.