Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CFP 003304
Apply for USDA NIFA CFP 003304
- 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 Oct 18, 2010 and posted on Aug 27, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 17, 2010. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 16 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Only private, nonprofit entities meeting the following three (3) requirements are eligible to receive a CFP or PP grant (a) have experience in the area of (i) community food work, particularly concerning small and medium size farms, including the provision of sustainably produced 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 discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It is focused on strengthening local and regional food systems in ways that directly benefit low-income communities, while also supporting farmers and building longer-term community capacity. The core idea is to fund practical, community-rooted projects that address food access and nutrition challenges alongside local food and farm needs, rather than treating them as separate issues.
Projects funded under this program are expected to do one or both of the following. First, they can be designed to meet the food needs of low-income people, increase a community's self-reliance in providing for its own food needs, and promote comprehensive, coordinated responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues. Second, they can be designed to meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agriculture needs by improving or developing infrastructure, supporting planning for long-term solutions, or creating innovative marketing activities that benefit both agricultural producers and low-income consumers. In practice, this can include work like expanding community-based food distribution capacity, building local processing or storage infrastructure, developing community-led food system plans, or launching new market channels that make sustainably produced food more accessible while opening reliable demand for farmers.
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA CFP 003304, and the program is listed under CFDA number 10.225 (Community Food Projects). For the cycle described in the source data, NIFA anticipated making about 16 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $5,000,000. Individual awards could be as large as $300,000, and the listed award floor is $0. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity areas include agriculture, community development, and food and nutrition. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants should plan for non-federal contributions as part of the project budget.
Eligibility is limited to private, nonprofit entities that meet specific requirements. Applicants must have relevant experience either in community food work, especially connected to small and medium-sized farms and improving access to sustainably produced food in low-income communities while developing new markets, or in job training and business development tied to food-related activities in low-income communities. Beyond experience, the organization must demonstrate it can competently carry out the project, maintain fiscal accountability, collect data, and produce the required reports and documentation. Applicants also must show a willingness to share information and results with researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties, including a clear plan for disseminating project outcomes.
Key dates in the posted announcement indicate it was posted on August 27, 2010, created on October 18, 2010, and had a closing date of November 17, 2010, with an archive date of December 17, 2010. For assistance accessing the full announcement, NIFA provided support through the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays).
Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFP) - FAQs
What is the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFP)?
The Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFP) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The program focuses on strengthening local and regional food systems in ways that directly benefit low-income communities, while also supporting farmers and building longer-term community capacity.
Which federal agency administers this grant program?
This grant program is administered by USDA through NIFA (the National Institute of Food and Agriculture).
What is the core purpose of CFP funding?
The core purpose is to fund practical, community-rooted projects that address food access and nutrition challenges alongside local food and farm needs, treating them as connected issues rather than separate problems.
What kinds of projects are expected to be funded under CFP?
Funded projects are expected to do one or both of the following: (1) meet the food needs of low-income people, increase a community's self-reliance in meeting its own food needs, and promote comprehensive, coordinated responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues; and/or (2) meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agriculture needs by improving or developing infrastructure, supporting planning for long-term solutions, or creating innovative marketing activities that benefit both agricultural producers and low-income consumers.
Does a project have to address both categories of activities, or can it focus on just one?
Based on the announcement description, projects are expected to do one or both of the two listed categories. That means a project may focus on either category, or it may address both.
What are examples of eligible or typical CFP activities?
Examples described include expanding community-based food distribution capacity, building local processing or storage infrastructure, developing community-led food system plans, or launching new market channels that make sustainably produced food more accessible while also creating reliable demand for farmers.
Who is intended to benefit from CFP projects?
Projects are intended to directly benefit low-income communities, while also supporting farmers and strengthening local and regional food systems.
What are the main activity areas associated with this grant opportunity?
The activity areas listed include agriculture, community development, and food and nutrition.
What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?
The funding opportunity number provided is USDA NIFA CFP 003304.
What CFDA number is associated with the Community Food Projects program?
The program is listed under CFDA number 10.225 (Community Food Projects).
How many awards were anticipated for the cycle described?
For the cycle described in the source data, NIFA anticipated making about 16 awards.
What was the estimated total funding amount for this cycle?
The estimated total funding amount listed for this cycle was $5,000,000.
What is the maximum individual award amount mentioned?
Individual awards could be as large as $300,000.
Is there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
The listed award floor is $0.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?
Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants should plan for non-federal contributions as part of the project budget.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to private, nonprofit entities that meet the stated requirements in the opportunity description.
What experience must an eligible nonprofit demonstrate?
Applicants must have relevant experience either (1) in community food work, especially connected to small and medium-sized farms and improving access to sustainably produced food in low-income communities while developing new markets, or (2) in job training and business development tied to food-related activities in low-income communities.
What organizational capabilities are applicants expected to demonstrate?
Applicants must demonstrate they can competently carry out the project, maintain fiscal accountability, collect data, and produce required reports and documentation.
Are applicants required to share project information and results?
Yes. Applicants must show a willingness to share information and results with researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties, including a clear plan for disseminating project outcomes.
When was this announcement posted and when did it close?
Key dates listed indicate the announcement was posted on August 27, 2010, and had a closing date of November 17, 2010.
What are the created and archive dates listed for the posting?
The posting indicates it was created on October 18, 2010, and the archive date listed is December 17, 2010.
How can someone get help accessing the full announcement?
NIFA provided support through the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048.
What are the help desk hours for assistance?
The help desk hours listed are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
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