Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CFP 003539
Apply for USDA NIFA CFP 003539
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture community development food and nutrition sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.225 Community Food Projects.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 21, 2011 and posted on Sep 21, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 17, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Only private, nonprofit entities meeting the following three requirements are eligible to receive a CFP, PP or TCB grant (a) have experience in the area of (i) community food work, particularly concerning small and medium size farms, including the provision of food to people in low income communities and the development of new markets in low income communities for agricultural producers or (ii) job training and business development activities for food related activities in low income communities (b) demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation and (c) demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties, including a plan for dissemination of results.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFP) is a mandatory federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), listed under CFDA 10.225. Its overall purpose is to strengthen local and regional food systems in ways that improve food security, especially for low-income communities, while helping projects become durable beyond the life of the grant. The program is structured around three main grant types: Community Food Projects (CFP), Planning Projects (PP), and a nationwide Training and Capacity Building (TCB) project. Together, these tracks are meant to move communities from identifying food access problems, to launching practical solutions, to building long-term skills and systems that keep those solutions running.
For Community Food Projects, the program focuses on funding implementation efforts that can become self-sustaining after receiving a one-time infusion of federal dollars. In practice, that means the grant is intended to help start or scale initiatives that connect agricultural producers and consumers in low-income areas, expand access to affordable and nutritious food, and create or strengthen markets for small and mid-sized farms. Projects often blend community development and food-and-farm strategies, such as supporting community-based food enterprises, improving distribution and retail options in underserved neighborhoods, and building local supply chains that keep economic value in the community. A key theme is moving beyond short-term food relief toward longer-term, community-driven food system improvements that can continue once federal funding ends.
Planning Projects are designed for communities and organizations that are not ready to implement a full-scale project but need structured support to assess local food security conditions and develop a realistic long-term strategy. The emphasis here is on understanding needs, gaps, assets, and stakeholders, then translating that information into actionable plans. Planning can include community engagement, data collection, mapping food access barriers, analyzing local production and market opportunities, and building partnerships. The end goal is a plan that positions a community to pursue sustainable solutions, whether through a future Community Food Project application or through other investments and collaborations.
The Training and Capacity Building component supports a project operating on a nationwide basis to help entities develop new Community Food Projects or improve the performance of existing food security efforts. This track is about spreading know-how: providing guidance, tools, training, and technical assistance so organizations can design stronger programs, manage them effectively, measure results, and share lessons learned. The intent is to raise the overall quality and effectiveness of food security projects nationally, not just for one community, by strengthening practitioner capacity and supporting peer learning and dissemination.
Funding for this opportunity was estimated at $5,000,000 total. Individual awards could be as high as $500,000, with a stated minimum award floor of $0. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity focus spans agriculture, community development, and food and nutrition. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants must plan to contribute non-federal resources toward the project according to the program rules.
Eligibility is limited to private, nonprofit entities that meet three core requirements. First, the organization must have relevant experience, either in community food work (with particular attention to small and medium-sized farms, getting food to low-income communities, and developing new markets in low-income communities for agricultural producers) or in job training and business development for food-related activities in low-income communities. Second, the organization must show it has the capacity to carry out the project responsibly, including project implementation competency, fiscal accountability, data collection, and the ability to prepare required reports and documentation. Third, the organization must demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties, including having a clear plan for disseminating results so that what is learned can benefit others.
Key administrative details from the posting include the funding opportunity number USDA NIFA CFP 003539, a posted/created date of September 21, 2011, and an application closing date of November 17, 2011 (with an archive date of December 17, 2011). For access issues with the full announcement, the notice directs applicants to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays), and it indicates additional contact support for questions related to preparing application content.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFP)?
The Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFP) is a mandatory federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It is listed under CFDA 10.225 and is designed to strengthen local and regional food systems in ways that improve food security, especially for low-income communities, while supporting projects that can last beyond the grant period.
What is the overall purpose of this grant opportunity?
The program aims to improve food security through stronger local and regional food systems, with a focus on low-income communities. A central goal is durability: projects are expected to move beyond short-term assistance and become sustainable after the grant ends.
Who administers this grant program?
The program is administered by USDA NIFA (U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture).
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA listing provided is 10.225.
What grant types are included in this program?
The program is structured around three main components: Community Food Projects (CFP), Planning Projects (PP), and a nationwide Training and Capacity Building (TCB) project.
How do the three grant tracks relate to each other?
Together, the tracks are intended to help communities move from identifying food access and food security problems (Planning Projects), to launching practical solutions (Community Food Projects), to building long-term skills and systems that help efforts continue and improve over time (Training and Capacity Building).
What does the Community Food Projects (CFP) track fund?
Community Food Projects fund implementation efforts that can become self-sustaining after a one-time infusion of federal funds. These projects typically connect agricultural producers and consumers in low-income areas, expand access to affordable and nutritious food, and create or strengthen markets for small and mid-sized farms.
What kinds of activities are common under Community Food Projects?
Examples described include supporting community-based food enterprises, improving distribution and retail options in underserved neighborhoods, and building local supply chains that keep economic value in the community. The emphasis is on longer-term, community-driven food system improvements rather than short-term food relief.
What does it mean that CFP projects should be self-sustaining?
Based on the description, the grant is intended as a one-time federal investment to help start or scale initiatives so they can continue operating after federal funding ends, rather than relying on ongoing grant support.
What are Planning Projects (PP) intended to support?
Planning Projects are intended for communities and organizations that are not ready to implement a full-scale project. They support structured efforts to assess local food security conditions and develop a realistic long-term strategy.
What activities can be included in a Planning Project?
Planning activities described include community engagement, data collection, mapping food access barriers, analyzing local production and market opportunities, and building partnerships. The objective is to produce an actionable plan for sustainable solutions.
What is the goal of a Planning Project at the end of the grant?
The goal is a plan that positions the community to pursue sustainable solutions, which could include applying later for a Community Food Project or pursuing other investments and collaborations.
What is the Training and Capacity Building (TCB) component?
The Training and Capacity Building component supports a project operating on a nationwide basis to help entities develop new Community Food Projects or improve existing food security efforts through training, tools, guidance, and technical assistance.
Is the Training and Capacity Building project intended to serve one community or the nation?
It is described as operating on a nationwide basis, with the intent to raise the quality and effectiveness of food security projects nationally.
What is the estimated total funding available for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding amount provided is $5,000,000.
What is the maximum award amount for an individual grant?
Individual awards could be as high as $500,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
The posting states a minimum award floor of $0.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is a grant.
What kinds of activities does this program focus on?
The activity focus spans agriculture, community development, and food and nutrition.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity indicates cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants must contribute non-federal resources toward the project according to program rules.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to private, nonprofit entities that meet the program requirements described in the posting.
What experience must an eligible nonprofit demonstrate?
The nonprofit must have relevant experience either in community food work (including work involving small and medium-sized farms, getting food to low-income communities, and developing new markets in low-income communities for agricultural producers) or in job training and business development for food-related activities in low-income communities.
What capacity requirements must applicants meet?
Applicants must show capacity to carry out the project responsibly, including competency in project implementation, fiscal accountability, data collection, and the ability to prepare required reports and documentation.
Are applicants expected to share results and information?
Yes. Applicants must demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties, and must have a plan for disseminating results so others can benefit from what is learned.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number provided is USDA NIFA CFP 003539.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posted/created date listed is September 21, 2011.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date listed is November 17, 2011.
Is this opportunity archived?
Yes. An archive date of December 17, 2011 is provided.
Who should applicants contact if they cannot access the full announcement?
The notice directs applicants to contact the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours for access issues.
What are the NIFA Help Desk business hours listed in the posting?
The listed hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Does the posting mention support for application preparation questions?
Yes. It indicates there is additional contact support for questions related to preparing application content.
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