Community Food Projects

The primary goals of the Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFPCGP) are as follows (7 U.S.C. 2034(b)):
a. Meet the food needs of low-income individuals through food distribution, community
outreach to assist in participation in Federally assisted nutrition programs, or
improving access to food as part of a comprehensive service;
b. Increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the
communities; and
c. Promote comprehensive responses to local food access, farm, and nutrition issues; or
d. Meet specific state, tribal, local or neighborhood food and agricultural needs
including needs relating to:
i. Equipment necessary for the efficient operation of a project; planning for long-term solutions; or
ii. The creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

Proposals may be submitted by private nonprofit entities. Because projects must promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues, applicants are encouraged to seek and create partnership among public, private nonprofit

To be further eligible for a grant, a private nonprofit applicant must meet three mandatory requirements:

1. Have experience in the area of:

(a) community food work, particularly concerning small and medium-sized 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
(b) job training and business development activities in low-income communities;

2. demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability and oversight, collect data, and prepare reports and other appropriate documentation; and

3. demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties.

Low income people.

Applications are subjected to a system of peer and merit review in accordance with section 103 of the Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7613) by a panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the NIFA Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) shall make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in the NOFO.

Reviewers will be selected based upon training and experience in relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, taking into account the following factors:

(a) The level of relevant formal scientific, technical education, or extension experience of the individual, as well as the extent to which an individual is engaged in relevant research, education, or extension activities;

(b) the need to include as reviewers experts from various areas of specialization within relevant scientific, education, or extension fields;

(c) the need to include as reviewers other experts (e.g., producers, range or forest managers/operators, and consumers) who can assess relevance of the applications to targeted audiences and to program needs;

(d) the need to include as reviewers experts from a variety of organizational types (e.g., colleges, universities, industry, state and Federal agencies, private profit and non-profit organizations) and geographic locations;

(e) the need to maintain a balanced composition of reviewers with regard to minority and female representation and an equitable age distribution; and

(f) the need to include reviewers who can judge the effective usefulness to producers and the general public of each application.

Evaluation Criteria will be delineated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).