Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA CFP 007953
The Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFPCGP) is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.225. For FY 2020 and FY 2021, the program funds two related grant types: Community Food Projects (CFP) and Planning Projects (PP). Both tracks are aimed at strengthening community food security, especially in ways that benefit low-income communities and support local agriculture, with an emphasis on practical, community-driven solutions that can last beyond the grant period.
Community Food Projects (CFP) grants are intended to help launch or expand on-the-ground, community-based food initiatives using a one-time infusion of federal funding designed to help the work become self-sustaining over time. In other words, the program is not looking to permanently bankroll ongoing operations; it is looking to invest in projects that can build durable systems, new capacity, and long-term local momentum. Funded CFPs are expected to have clear objectives, activities, and measurable outcomes that align with the program's primary goals, such as reducing food insecurity, improving food access, and strengthening local food systems in underserved areas.
Planning Projects (PP) grants are smaller-scope awards focused on developing a detailed plan to improve community food security. These projects must focus on a clearly defined community and should spell out what planning activities will occur and what products or outcomes will result (for example, a community food assessment, a strategic plan, partnership and governance structures, feasibility analyses, or implementation roadmaps). The idea is to support communities that need time and resources to design a strong, coordinated approach before moving into a full implementation project.
Eligibility is limited to specific applicant types: public food program service providers, tribal organizations, and private nonprofit entities, including gleaners (as defined in the RFA). To qualify for either a CFP or PP award, the applicant organization must meet four core requirements. First, it must have relevant experience in community food work, especially work connected to small and medium-sized farms, providing food to people in low-income communities, and building new or expanded markets in low-income areas for agricultural producers. This experience requirement also includes job training and business development tied to food-related activities in low-income communities, as well as direct efforts to reduce food insecurity, such as food distribution, improving access to services, or coordinating programs. Second, applicants must be able to show they can run the project responsibly, including sound project management, fiscal accountability, data collection, and reporting. Third, they must be willing to share what they learn, including a dissemination plan to communicate results to researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested groups. Fourth, applicants must collaborate with at least one local partner organization in pursuit of at least one hunger-free communities goal referenced in the program materials.
A major requirement of this program is the match: applicants must provide a dollar-for-dollar match for all federal funds requested. This means if an organization requests a certain amount in federal grant funds, it must commit an equal amount in non-federal matching resources, consistent with the rules described in the RFA. Not meeting eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to an application being excluded from consideration, so the program places a strong emphasis on compliance and documentation.
While only the lead applicant must meet the eligibility rules, NIFA actively encourages partnerships and collaborations across sectors. Applicants are urged to build relationships with public and private organizations, nonprofits and for-profits, academic institutions (including minority-serving institutions), community-based organizations, and local government entities. Partners do not have to be independently eligible to apply. In addition, award recipients may issue subawards to organizations that are not eligible to apply directly, as long as those subaward partners are necessary to carry out the project successfully and the arrangement follows the RFA rules.
The opportunity also anticipates situations where an applicant cannot receive federal funds directly. In those cases, the application must include a letter explaining that the award would be administered through a fiscal agent, and it must identify that fiscal agent. The letter needs to be countersigned by an authorized representative of the fiscal agent and include basic contact details (point of contact, address, phone, fax, and email). If the project is recommended for funding, NIFA may request additional management information from both the applicant and the fiscal agent to ensure proper oversight.
Key administrative details included in the source listing are that the funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA CFP 007953, the instrument type is a grant, and the activity area is agriculture. The listing shows an award ceiling of $400,000 and an original closing date of May 4, 2021, indicating the maximum amount an applicant could request under that particular competition and the deadline that applied for that cycle.Apply for USDA NIFA CFP 007953
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.225.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-12-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFPCGP) FAQs
What is the Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFPCGP)?
The Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFPCGP) is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under CFDA 10.225. It supports projects that strengthen community food security, particularly efforts that benefit low-income communities and support local agriculture through practical, community-driven solutions designed to last beyond the grant period.
What grant types are available under this opportunity?
For FY 2020 and FY 2021, CFPCGP funds two related grant types: Community Food Projects (CFP) and Planning Projects (PP).
What is the difference between a Community Food Project (CFP) and a Planning Project (PP)?
CFP grants focus on launching or expanding on-the-ground, community-based food initiatives using a one-time infusion of federal funding intended to help the work become self-sustaining over time. PP grants support smaller-scope efforts to develop a detailed plan to improve community food security, including defined planning activities and clear planning products or outcomes.
What is the main purpose of Community Food Projects (CFP) grants?
CFP grants are intended to invest in projects that build durable systems, new capacity, and long-term local momentum. They are not designed to permanently fund ongoing operations. Funded projects are expected to have clear objectives, activities, and measurable outcomes aligned with program goals such as reducing food insecurity, improving food access, and strengthening local food systems in underserved areas.
What is the main purpose of Planning Projects (PP) grants?
PP grants are intended to help a clearly defined community develop a strong and coordinated approach to improving community food security before moving into implementation. These projects should describe planning activities and specify the products or outcomes that will result.
What are examples of acceptable Planning Project (PP) outcomes or deliverables?
Examples referenced include a community food assessment, a strategic plan, partnership and governance structures, feasibility analyses, or implementation roadmaps.
Who is eligible to apply for CFPCGP funding?
Eligibility is limited to specific applicant types: public food program service providers, tribal organizations, and private nonprofit entities, including gleaners (as defined in the RFA).
What core requirements must an applicant meet to qualify for a CFP or PP award?
To qualify, the applicant organization must meet four core requirements: (1) relevant experience in community food work (including connections to small and medium-sized farms, serving low-income communities, and building or expanding markets in low-income areas for agricultural producers, plus related job training and business development and direct efforts to reduce food insecurity), (2) the ability to run the project responsibly (sound management, fiscal accountability, data collection, and reporting), (3) willingness to share lessons learned through a dissemination plan, and (4) collaboration with at least one local partner organization in pursuit of at least one hunger-free communities goal referenced in the program materials.
What kinds of experience does NIFA look for in applicants?
The program expects applicants to have relevant experience in community food work, especially efforts connected to small and medium-sized farms, providing food to people in low-income communities, and developing new or expanded markets in low-income areas for agricultural producers. It also includes job training and business development tied to food-related activities in low-income communities, and direct efforts that reduce food insecurity (such as food distribution, improving access to services, or coordinating programs).
What does it mean to demonstrate the ability to manage the project responsibly?
Based on the opportunity description, applicants should be able to show sound project management, fiscal accountability, data collection, and reporting capabilities.
Is a dissemination plan required?
Yes. Applicants must be willing to share what they learn, including having a dissemination plan to communicate results to researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested groups.
Is collaboration with partners required?
Yes. Applicants must collaborate with at least one local partner organization in pursuit of at least one hunger-free communities goal referenced in the program materials.
Do partner organizations have to be eligible applicants themselves?
No. Only the lead applicant must meet the eligibility rules. Partners do not have to be independently eligible to apply.
Does NIFA encourage partnerships beyond the required local partner?
Yes. NIFA encourages partnerships and collaborations across sectors, including public and private organizations, nonprofits and for-profits, academic institutions (including minority-serving institutions), community-based organizations, and local government entities.
Can award recipients make subawards to organizations that are not eligible to apply directly?
Yes. Award recipients may issue subawards to organizations that are not eligible to apply directly, as long as those subaward partners are necessary to carry out the project successfully and the arrangement follows the RFA rules.
Is matching funding required under CFPCGP?
Yes. A major requirement is a dollar-for-dollar match for all federal funds requested. If an organization requests a certain amount in federal grant funds, it must commit an equal amount in non-federal matching resources, consistent with the rules described in the RFA.
What happens if eligibility requirements are not met by the application deadline?
Not meeting eligibility requirements by the application deadline can lead to an application being excluded from consideration. The program places strong emphasis on compliance and documentation.
What if an applicant cannot receive federal funds directly?
If an applicant cannot receive federal funds directly, the application must include a letter explaining that the award would be administered through a fiscal agent, and it must identify that fiscal agent.
What must be included in the fiscal agent letter?
The letter needs to be countersigned by an authorized representative of the fiscal agent and include basic contact details: point of contact, address, phone, fax, and email.
Can NIFA request additional information about the applicant or fiscal agent?
Yes. If the project is recommended for funding, NIFA may request additional management information from both the applicant and the fiscal agent to ensure proper oversight.
What is the funding opportunity number for this listing?
The funding opportunity number listed is USDA NIFA CFP 007953.
What is the assistance listing/CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 10.225.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The instrument type listed is a grant.
What activity area does this opportunity fall under?
The activity area is agriculture.
What is the maximum award amount shown in the listing?
The listing shows an award ceiling of $400,000, indicating the maximum amount an applicant could request under that particular competition.
What was the closing date for the cycle described in the listing?
The original closing date shown is May 4, 2021, indicating the deadline that applied for that cycle.
What kinds of outcomes are expected for funded Community Food Projects (CFP)?
Funded CFPs are expected to have clear objectives, defined activities, and measurable outcomes aligned with primary goals such as reducing food insecurity, improving food access, and strengthening local food systems in underserved areas, with an emphasis on sustainability beyond the grant period.
Do these grants focus on low-income communities?
Yes. Both CFP and PP tracks are aimed at strengthening community food security in ways that benefit low-income communities and support local agriculture.
Does the program emphasize sustainability after the grant ends?
Yes. The program description emphasizes practical, community-driven solutions that can last beyond the grant period, and CFP grants in particular are framed as a one-time infusion designed to help projects become self-sustaining over time.
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