Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CFP 003957
Apply for USDA NIFA CFP 003957
- 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 Apr 4, 2013 and posted on Oct 15, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 5, 2013. (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.
- 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 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 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), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is a mandatory grant opportunity focused on strengthening local and regional food systems in ways that directly benefit low-income communities. The core intent is practical and community-driven: projects are expected to improve food access for low-income residents, build long-term community self-reliance around food, and support broad, coordinated responses to local food, farm, and nutrition challenges. In addition to those overarching goals, the program also supports efforts that address specific food and agriculture needs at the state, local, or neighborhood level, particularly when they involve improving or developing food-system infrastructure, doing serious planning work aimed at durable solutions, or creating innovative marketing approaches that link agricultural producers and low-income consumers in mutually beneficial ways.
This opportunity falls under CFDA 10.225 and is categorized under Agriculture, Community Development, and Food and Nutrition. The total estimated funding listed for the opportunity is $5,000,000, and cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants must contribute non-federal resources as part of the project budget. The award floor is listed as $0, which typically signals that the program is not setting a minimum award amount in the notice itself and that award sizes may vary depending on the project design, budget, and available funds.
Eligibility is limited to private, nonprofit entities, and the requirements are specific. Applicants must show real experience and capacity in community food work that connects to low-income communities, including work involving small- and medium-sized farms, improving food provision to low-income populations, and building new markets in low-income areas for agricultural producers. Alternatively (or additionally), applicants can qualify through demonstrated experience in job training and business development related to food activities in low-income communities. Beyond experience, the organization must demonstrate it can successfully run the project with strong management and accountability, including fiscal controls, data collection, and the ability to produce required reports and documentation. A final eligibility theme is knowledge sharing: applicants need to show they are willing to share information with researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties, and they must include a plan to disseminate results so that lessons learned can be used beyond the immediate project site.
Key timing information in the listing shows the opportunity was posted on October 15, 2012, with an original closing date of November 28, 2012, later updated to a current closing date of April 5, 2013. The archive date is May 5, 2013, which indicates the listing has since been closed and archived, but the details remain useful as a reference point for how the program is structured and what kinds of projects it prioritizes.
For support, NIFA provides a help desk for applicants who have trouble accessing the announcement electronically, reachable by phone at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays). The opportunity also indicates there is contact support available for questions related to preparing application content, reflecting that applicants are expected to assemble a substantive proposal with clear project plans, measurable outcomes, accountability systems, and a dissemination strategy aligned with CFP goals.
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 mandatory grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It funds practical, community-driven projects that strengthen local and regional food systems in ways that directly benefit low-income communities.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The program is intended to improve food access for low-income residents, build long-term community self-reliance around food, and support broad, coordinated responses to local food, farm, and nutrition challenges.
What types of activities or approaches does CFP support?
Based on the listing, CFP supports efforts such as improving or developing food-system infrastructure, conducting serious planning work aimed at durable solutions, and creating innovative marketing approaches that link agricultural producers and low-income consumers in mutually beneficial ways. Projects are expected to be practical and rooted in community needs.
Does the program focus on any specific population?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes direct benefits to low-income communities, including improving food provision and access for low-income populations and creating markets in low-income areas that benefit both residents and agricultural producers.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.225.
How is this opportunity categorized?
The listing categorizes the program under Agriculture, Community Development, and Food and Nutrition.
How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding listed for the opportunity is $5,000,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
The award floor is listed as $0. This typically means the notice does not set a minimum award amount and that award sizes may vary based on project design, the proposed budget, and available funds.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants must contribute non-federal resources as part of the project budget.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to private, nonprofit entities.
What kind of experience must an eligible nonprofit demonstrate?
Applicants must show real experience and capacity in community food work connected to low-income communities. The listing highlights experience involving small- and medium-sized farms, improving food provision to low-income populations, and building new markets in low-income areas for agricultural producers.
Can an organization qualify based on workforce or business-development experience instead?
Yes. The opportunity indicates applicants can qualify through demonstrated experience in job training and business development related to food activities in low-income communities.
What management and accountability capabilities are expected from applicants?
The organization must demonstrate it can successfully run the project with strong management and accountability. The listing specifically mentions fiscal controls, data collection, and the ability to produce required reports and documentation.
Are applicants required to share project information and results?
Yes. Applicants must show a willingness to share information with researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties, and they must include a plan to disseminate results so lessons learned can be used beyond the immediate project site.
What are the key dates shown in the opportunity listing?
The listing shows it was posted on October 15, 2012. The original closing date was November 28, 2012, and it was later updated to a current closing date of April 5, 2013.
What does it mean that the listing has an archive date?
The archive date is May 5, 2013. This indicates the listing has been closed and archived, even though the details may still be useful as a reference for how the program is structured and the types of projects it prioritizes.
Who administers the program?
The program is administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What kind of help is available if someone cannot access the announcement electronically?
NIFA provides a help desk for applicants who have trouble accessing the announcement electronically. The phone number listed is 202-401-5048, available Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.
Is there support available for application preparation questions?
Yes. The opportunity notes contact support for questions related to preparing application content, reflecting that proposals are expected to include clear project plans, measurable outcomes, accountability systems, and a dissemination strategy aligned with CFP goals.
What does the listing suggest about the kind of proposal expected?
The listing suggests applicants should prepare a substantive proposal with clear project plans, measurable outcomes, accountability systems (including fiscal controls and data collection), and a dissemination strategy that aligns with CFP goals and supports broader learning beyond the project site.
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