Deadline: 15-Sep-20
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, including the Department of Agricultural Resources and the Department of Fish and Game (collectively, “EEA”), and in coordination with the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the Department of Public Health (DPH) are pleased to announce the opportunity for funding for the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program (FSIG).
The goal of this grant program is to ensure that individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth have access to food, with a special focus on food that is produced locally and equitable access to food. The program also seeks to ensure that farmers, fisherman and other local food producers are better connected to a strong, resilient food system to help mitigate future food supply and distribution disruption.
EEA may procure an outside consultant with expertise in grant management, as well as partner with Community Action Agencies (CAAs), to assist with the administration of the Food Security Infrastructure Grant.
Funding Information
Anticipated Budget: Up to $500,000 per proposal. Proposals are expected to vary in the amount of funding requested based on the anticipated activity.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be part of the local food production and distribution system, including entities that are principally and substantially engaged in the business of production agriculture, farming, or seafood production, processing and distribution, the emergency food distribution network, community and food organizations, school meal programming (including summer meal sites), and including organizations that provide business planning, technical assistance and information technology services. Eligible entities must be legally recognized entities within the Commonwealth and must have the ability to enter a legally binding agreement with the Commonwealth. Applicants are limited to three applications per review cycle. Applications to any subsequent rounds may be limited by performance in the previous round.
The following list of applicants includes, but is not exhaustive of, eligible commodities, businesses, or organizations:
- Agricultural Operations (including not-for-profit) as defined by M.G.L. c. 128, Section 1A
- Fisheries and Commercial Fishermen
- Aquaculture
- Buy Local Organizations
- Urban Agriculture and Community Farms that provide food for food insecure residents
- Farmers’ Markets
- Food Banks and Food Pantries
- Food System Organizations
- Massachusetts Food System Access Points/Retailers
- Community Gardens/Spaces
- Livestock and Poultry for Food Production
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Processing Facilities, including new construction, expansion of, and improvements
- Distribution and Transportation
- Municipalities and School Districts
- Community Organizations and services (including summer meal sites)
- Emergency Food Distribution Network
- Seafood Businesses (including not-for profit) as defined by M.G.L. c. 130, Section 80
- Seafood Dealers and Processors
- Technical Assistance Providers
- Value-Added (must identify MA-grown components)
- Small grocery stores, corner stores (under 50 full-and part-time employees)
Other non-profits that address food insecurity, local food, or entities that support minority or low income communities.
For more information, visit https://www.mass.gov/service-details/food-security-infrastructure-grant-program