Micro-Grants for Food Security Program

IPPGrants@usda.gov

Grants.gov contact center:
800.518.4726
support@grants.gov
Self-service knowledge base

System for award management (SAM):
866.606.8220
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide grants to eligible agencies for the competitive distribution of sub-grants that increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food in areas that have significant levels of food insecurity. The program promotes resilient landscapes and rural economic systems, including tools to support agriculture, forests, grazing lands, and rural communities.

Sub-grant activities may include:

• Small scale gardening
  • Purchase gardening tools or equipment, soil, soil amendments, seeds, plants, canning equipment, refrigeration, or other items necessary to grow and store food
  • Purchase or assembly of composting units and towers designed to grow leafy greens
  • Extend the growing season, as well as start or expand hydroponic and aeroponic farming
  • Expand an area under cultivation or engage in other activities necessary to be eligible to apply for funding under the USDA's Natural Resources and Conservation Service's Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
• Small scale herding and livestock operations
  • Purchase animals
  • Purchase, installation, or repair of fencing for livestock, poultry, or reindeer
  • Establishing or improving a processing facility
• Expanding access to food and knowledge of food security
  • Create or expand avenues for the sale of food commodities, specialty crops, and meats that are grown by the eligible entity for sale in the local community, or increase the availability of fresh, locally grown, and nutritious food
  • Shipping of purchased items related to growing or raising food for local consumption or purchase
  • Travel to participate in agricultural education provided by a state cooperative extension service, land-grant college or university, tribal college or university, Alaska Native serving institution, or a Native Hawaiian-serving institution, or federal or state agency

Performance measures

Eligible applicants include agricultural agencies or departments in Alaska, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the United States Virgin Islands.

Eligible sub-grant entities must be physically located in an eligible state or territory and include:

• Individuals
• Tribes and tribal organizations
• Nonprofit organizations that are engaged in increasing food security, such as:
  • Religious organizations
  • Food banks
  • Food pantries
• Federally funded educational facilities, such as:
  • Head Start and Early Head Start programs
  • Public elementary and secondary schools
  • Public institutions of higher education
  • Tribal Colleges and Universities
  • Job training programs
• Local and tribal governments that may not levy local taxes under state or federal law

Award ceiling: $1,900,800
Award floor: $118,800
Project period: 4 years
Estimated number of awards: 10
Estimated total program funding: $4,750,000

Allocation percentages by state/territory are provided in the application instructions.

Matching funds are not required for eligible applicants. A 10% cash cost share is required for eligible subaward entities.

Links to the full announcement, application instructions, and the online application process are available through grants.gov and the USDA website.