1. Federal Funding Streams for Community Food Systems
Danielle Fleury- FNS
David Robinson- RD
Kim Harmon- AMS

2. Overview Rural Development (RD) Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS)
David Robinson, Northern Regional Coordinator
Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS)
Kim Harmon, Grants Management Specialist
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)
Danielle Fleury, Northeast Regional Farm to School Lead
Helpful resources

3. MATT?

4. Rural
Development (RD)

5. Rural Business Development Grant
Applicants
Opportunity
Non-Profits
Tribal Entities
Municipalities
Who in turn assist
rural businesses.
Enhance rural jobs and businesses.
Provide technical assistance
Create revolving loan funds
Install infrastructure
Develop business centers
State allocated – controlled
Priority for match, low income, high unemployment and other factors.
Food Hubs – equipment
Producers – business plans
Industry – trade assistance
Producer – business loans

6. Value Added Producer Grant
Applicants
Opportunity
Independent Producers
Producer Groups
Farmer-Rancher Coops
Producer Controlled Ventures
Business planning – up to $75,000
Working capital grants – up to $250,000
50% match required
Annual notice
State-based processing
Nationally competitive
$20 million FY 17 (estimated)

7. Intermediary Relending Program
Applicants
Opportunity
“Intermediaries” include:
Non-Profits
Tribal Entities
Municipalities
Max Intermediary Loan:
$1.0 million
Who in turn make loans
to and assist rural
businesses.
Finance up to 75% of eligible project costs
Biz Max Loan to $250,000
Working capital; equipment ; real estate
Rates/Terms/Criteria will vary widely among funds.
“Intermediaries” borrow wholesale funds from USDA and establish customized, local Revolving Loan Funds.
Food Hubs – Construction
Food Hubs - Equipment
Producers – Equipment
Producers – Working Capital

8. Rural Microentrepreneur Lending Program
Applicants
Opportunity
“Intermediaries” include:
Non-Profits
Tribal Entities
Municipalities
Max Intermediary Loan:
$500,000
Who in turn make loans
to and assist rural
businesses.
Finance up to 75% of eligible project costs
Biz Max Loan to $50,000
Working capital; debt refi, equipment, real estate purchase.
No construction
Rates/Terms/Criteria will vary widely among funds.
“Intermediaries” borrow wholesale funds from USDA and establish customized, local Revolving Loan Funds.
Farmers – Ag purposes
Food Hubs - Equipment
Producers – Equipment
Producers – Working Capital

9. Business & Industry Loan Guarantee
Beneficiaries
Opportunity
Rural Businesses
Commercial banks
Credit Unions
Non-Traditional lenders
Rates/Terms/Criteria will vary based on lender policy.
Finance up to 100% of project costs subject to collateral and equity.
Guarantee commercial loans up to $25 million
Working capital; equipment ; real estate
30 years – real estate
15 years – equipment
7 years – working capital
Qualified lenders may receive a loan guarantee to support qualified projects that create/save jobs in eligible locations.
Business- New construction
Business – Acquisition
Business – Debt refinance
Business – Equipment
Business – Working Capital

10. State Program Contacts
Contact Information
Maine
Brian Wilson, Program Director
Vermont – New Hampshire
Cheryl Ducharme, Program Director
Susan Poland, Program Specialist
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Jennifer Lerch, Program Director
Kristine Kimball, Program Specialist
New York
David Schermerhorn, Program Director
Beverly VonPlesse, Program Specialist

11. Projects Kimball Brook Farm A Farm-To-School Producer
Addison County, Vermont
Value Added Producer Grant
Business Loan Guarantee
Rural Business Grant
Vermont Smoke and Cure
Manufacturer of super-
premium meat products
Hinesburg, Vermont
Business Loan Guarantee
Rural Business Grant
Intermediary Relending Loan

12. Grants and Opportunities

13. Available Grant Opportunities
Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Federal State Marketing Improvement Program
Specialty Crop MultiState Program
The following grant programs falls under the Ag Marketing Service’s Transportation and Marketing Program, Grants Division.

14. Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program
Grant awards support local and regional food systems through two competitive programs:
Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)
Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP)
The Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program provides funding to support two grant opportunities – the FMPP and the LFPP.
FMPP has existed since In 2014, the Farm Bill reauthorized FMPP and added a sister program, LFPP.
FMPP funded direct-to-consumer marketing projects, while LFPP funds non-direct-to-consumer intermediary supply chain activities.
The Farm Bill authorized up to $30 million each year through 2018 to split equally between FMPP and LFPP (so $15 million each).

15. Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program
Eligible entities include:
Agricultural Businesses
Economic Development Corporations
Producer Associations
Agricultural Cooperatives
Local Governments
Public Benefit Corporations
CSA Networks
Nonprofit Corporations
Regional Farmers Market Authorities
CSA Associations
Producer Networks
Tribal Governments
Under these two grant opportunities, eligible entities include...
Domestic entities owned, operated, and located within the:
50 United States,
District of Columbia, the
U.S. Territories (Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands).
Definitions for each of these entities can be found in our annual Request for Application announcing available funding.

16. Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program
Purpose
To increase domestic consumption of and access to locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and
to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets
So the 2014 Farm Bill states that the purpose of Both FMPP and LFPP is to………
You can also find the purpose for each grant program in the RFA.

17. Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)
Purpose
Develop, improve, expand, and provide outreach, training, and technical assistance to, or
assist in the development, improvement and expansion of domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community- supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities.
The purpose for FMPP is to……….
Projects not eligible:
Are not related to direct producer-to-consumer marketing.
Production activities including materials, supplies and other related costs.
Benefit only one farm vendor or individual.
Depend upon a critical component (such as land and structures) not in place at the time of application submission.
Depend upon the completion of another project or the receipt of another grant.
Duplicate activities in a project that has received a Federal award from another Federal award program, including the activities of another current FMLFPP project.

18. FMPP Project Types All grants 36 months CB Grants: Max $250,000
Capacity Building (CB) projects are intended to assist applicants in the development, improvement, and expansion of domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, agritourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities.
All grants 36 months
CB Grants: Max $250,000
FMPP h
Projects can include, but are not limited to:
Local farmer, rancher, or manager (i.e., farmers’ market manager) training and education.
Farmers’ market, roadside stand, CSA, or agritourism activity startup and/or expansion.
Market analysis and planning for a direct producer-to-consumer market opportunity.
Recruitment and outreach to new and beginning farmers  and consumers of direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities.

19. FMPP Project Types All grants 36 months CDTTA Grants: Max $500,000
Community Development, Training, and Technical Assistance (CDTTA) projects are intended to support applicants’ efforts to provide outreach, training, and technical assistance to farm and ranch operations serving local markets and other interested parties for developing, improving, and expanding of domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, CSA programs, agritourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities.
All grants 36 months
CDTTA Grants: Max $500,000
Projects can include, but are not limited to:
Statewide or regional farmer, rancher, or manager (i.e., farmers’ market manager) training and education.
Assisting farmers and ranchers in advertising and promoting their locally and regionally produced agricultural products through technical assistance.
Producer-to-consumer network and organization building on a state, regional, and national level, which includes efforts to develop sourcing channels using direct-to-consumer market opportunities with corporate, non-profit, and public institutions.
Technical support for small- and mid-sized producers to become compliant with state, federal, and corporate regulations and standards in order to increase their direct-to-consumer market opportunities.
Local farmer, rancher, or manager (i.e., farmers’ market manager) training and education.
Farmers’ market, roadside stand, CSA, or agritourism activity startup and/or expansion.
Market analysis and planning for a direct producer-to-consumer market opportunity.
Recruitment and outreach to new and beginning farmers  and consumers of direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities.

20. Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)
Example:
$75,000 was awarded to the City of Muskegon, MI to increase resident awareness of locally sourced produce at the Muskegon Farmers Market by:
expanding a children’s educational program, Power of Produce Club;
facilitating a winter farmers market; and
implementing a marketing campaign that utilizes farm tours and provides technical assistance for farmers that plan to implement their own farm tours.

21. Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP)
Purpose
Develop, improve, expand, and provide outreach, training, and technical assistance to, or assist in the development, improvement, and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises (including those that are not direct producer-to-consumer markets).
LFPP projects must be aimed at processing, distributing, aggregating, or storing locally or regionally produced food products.
Requires a cash or in-kind match of 25 percent of the total cost of the project.
Separately, LFPP exists to…
Local or Regional Food Business Enterprise: An organization or business entity that functions as an intermediary between producers (farmers or growers) and buyers by carrying out one or more local or regional food supply chain activities—including aggregating, storing, processing, and/or distributing locally or regionally produced food products—to meet local and regional market demand.
Planning projects may include, but are not limited to:
Completing a feasibility study for a new food hub.
Hiring an expert(s) to provide technical assistance to implement a local/regional food transportation system.
Hiring an expert(s) to provide training on managing a local/regional food storage or processing facility.
Devising a business plan to implement such projects listed below.
Implementation activities would include developing, improving, expanding, and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to, or assisting in the development, improvement and expansion of such business enterprises.  For example, recipients may fund training and technical assistance for the business enterprise and/or for producers working with the business enterprise; outreach and marketing to buyers and consumers; and non-construction infrastructure improvements to business enterprise facilities or information technology systems .
Implementation projects may include, but are not limited to:
Aggregating from producer to wholesale buyers through a website or virtual marketplace.
Expanding or establishing new local food markets in local/regional communities.
Establishing local/regional food incubator programs.
Establishing shared kitchens.
Instituting Group Good Agricultural Practices.
Providing training and/or technical assistance to accomplish any of, or related to, any of the above activities.
Projects not eligible:
Are not related to local and regional food markets. 
Are to purchase food or services to donate to other entities and/or individuals.
Are for production-related expenses, including materials, supplies and other related costs.
Depend on the purchase or lease-to-own purchase of a vehicle—vehicles can be leased, but not leased-to-own or purchased.
Benefit only one agricultural producer or individual.
Promote local/regional food consumption in general (not related to a specific product, good or service).
Depend upon a critical component (such as land and structures) not in place at the time of application submission.
Depend upon the completion of another project or the receipt of another Federal award.
Duplicate activities in a project that has received a Federal award from another Federal award program, including the activities of another current FMLFPP project.

22. LFPP Project Types
Planning Grants are used in the planning stages of establishing, improving or expanding a local and regional food business that will:
Increase domestic consumption of and access to locally and regionally produced agricultural products; and
Develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets.
All Grants: 18 months/Max $100,000 per award
Projects may include, but are not limited to:
Completing a feasibility study for a new food hub.
Hiring an expert(s) to provide technical assistance to implement a local/regional food transportation system.
Hiring an expert(s) to provide training on managing a local/regional food storage or processing facility.
Devising a business plan to conduct an implement project

23. LFPP Project Types
Implementation Grants are used to establish a new local and regional food business, or to improve or expand an existing local and regional food business that will:
Increase domestic consumption of and access to local and regionally produced agricultural products; and
Develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets.
All Grants: 36 months/Max $500,000 per award
Projects may include, but are not limited to:
Establishing or expanding the scope of local/regional food incubator programs.
Establishing, expanding, or diversifying the operation of existing community kitchens and food processing facilities.
Instituting individual or group-based Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) certification for sellers of local food into wholesale marketing channels.
Aggregating from producer to wholesale buyers through a website or virtual marketplace.
Exploring opportunities for food hubs/aggregators to create greater institutional and retail market access for local food through joint business networks.
Cultivating new wholesale market channels for locally grown specialty and culturally appropriate foods.
Helping urban farmers scale up production and increase their farm-based income by creating new wholesale market opportunities.
Investigating and implementing more cost-effective means of transportation for local food supply chains through backhaul, route optimization, and/or other operational efficiencies.
Providing training and/or technical assistance to accomplish any of, or related to, any of the above activities.

24. Timing to Obtain/Submit March 27, 2017 – 11:59 p.m. [Eastern Time]
Required Action
Timing to Obtain/Submit
AMS Deadline to receive final application and all supporting materials
March 27, 2017 – 11:59 p.m. [Eastern Time]
Obtaining Your Organization’s DUNS Number (if you do not already have one)
1-2 business days
Establishing an Active SAM.gov Account (if you do not already have one)
7-10 business days
Obtaining an TIN/EIN (if you do not already have one)
Up to 2 weeks
Creating your Grants.gov profile and registering your AOR authorization

25. Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP)
Example:
$95,130 was awarded to the City of Elgin, TX to provide technical assistance to support value-added processing of local fruits and vegetables. The work will support farmers, entrepreneurs, and wholesale and institutional buyers in developing and managing new markets.

26. Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP)
Example:
$22,000 was awarded to the City of Buffalo, NY to determine demand for a kitchen incubator, including assessing anticipated end users, potential programming and staffing needs, sanitation and maintenance needs, operating hours and regulations, and a fee structure.

27. Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Funds projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, cut flowers, and other horticulture products.
Funds awarded to State departments of agriculture in the 50 states and U.S. territories to partner with specialty crop stakeholders to fulfill specialty crop priorities.
Projects can focus on a wide variety of specialty crop initiatives including food safety, education, marketing, and research.
So as I mentioned, our Grants Division also oversees the SCBGP…
You must apply for funds through your local State department of agriculture. State contacts are listed on the AMS grant website along with their grant application deadlines.
Grant allocations available to each State department of agriculture will be published in the Request for Applications announcing funding each year.

28. Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Overview

29. Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Example:
$29,600 was awarded to the Missouri Department of Agriculture to partner with Kansas City Community Gardens to
improve gardening knowledge,
increase access to healthy food, and
increase fruit and vegetable production for low-income urban gardeners.
The project provided education, greenhouse production of high-yield food crops for transplant, cost-saving on bulk seed, plant and fruit tree purchases, technical assistance and community garden space.

30. Specialty Crop Multistate Program
Funds projects that solely enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through collaborative, multi-state projects that address regional or national level specialty crop issues relating to food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects, and marketing and promotion.
Funds awarded to State departments of agriculture in partnership with multi-state entities in the 50 states and U.S. territories.
The SCMP program just began 2016 year.

31. Federal State Marketing Improvement Program
Funds applied market research projects that address barriers, challenges, and opportunities in marketing, transporting, and distributing U.S. food and agricultural products domestically and internationally.
Funds awarded to State departments of agriculture and academia in the 50 states and U.S. territories. Partnerships with stakeholders are encouraged.
Eligible categories include livestock, livestock products, food and feed crops, fish and shellfish, horticulture, viticulture, apiary, and forest products and processed or manufactured products derived from such commodities
Finally, our Grants Division also oversees the FSMIP program.

32. Federal State Marketing Improvement Program
Funding level for FY 17 is $1 million. The maximum award is ~ $200,000; a 1-1 match is required. The FY application deadline is March 27, 2017.
Project length is 3 years.
FSMIP Projects:
Address barriers, challenges or opportunities manifesting at any stage of the marketing chain including direct, wholesale, and retail.
Involve small, medium or large scale agricultural entities but potentially benefit multiple producers or agribusinesses. Proprietary proposals that benefit one business or individual will not be considered.
Cover issues of importance at the State, multi-State, or national level are appropriate for FSMIP. FSMIP also seeks unique proposals on a smaller scale that may serve as pilot projects or case studies useful as a model for others.
Of particular interest are proposals that reflect a collaborative approach between the States, academia, the farm sector and other appropriate entities and stakeholders.

33. Federal State Marketing Improvement Program
Example:
An $80,444 matching grant was awarded to Washington State University, in partnership with North West Agriculture Business Center, to enhance the marketing of U.S.-grown quinoa by addressing post-harvest infrastructural needs, processing challenges, and new product development.

34. For Further Information
Grant Opportunity
Contact Information
Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program
Dewell Paez Delgado
(202)
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Carly Borgmeier
(202)
Federal-State Market Improvement Program and
Specialty Crop Multistate Program
Martin Rosier
(202)

35. For Further Information
Grants and Opportunities Web Site:
Questions????
Kim R. Harmon

36. Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS)

37. Farm to School at USDA: What do we do
Farm to School at USDA: What do we do? Section 243 Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act (Child Nutrition Reauthorization)
The Secretary shall create a Farm to School Program to:
Distribute grant funding to improve access to local foods in schools;
Provide technical assistance to state agencies, school districts, partnering organizations; and
Conduct research and disseminate data on existing programs and opportunities for expansion.

38. The Farm to School Grant Program
Award up to $5.0 million annually, for:
Training, network development;
Planning;
Purchasing equipment;
Developing school gardens;
Developing partnerships; and
Implementing farm to school programs.

39. Types of Grants Planning ($20,000 - $45,000 over 18 months)
school districts or individual schools just starting to incorporate farm to school program elements into their operations
Implementation ($65,000 - $100,000 over 1-2 years)
school districts or schools to help scale or further develop existing farm to school initiatives
Support Service ($65,000 - $100,000 over 1-2 years)
state and local agencies, Indian tribal organizations, agricultural producers or groups of agricultural producers, and non-profit entities working with school districts
Training ($15,000 - $50,000 over 1 year)
State agencies, partnering orgs to support conferences, events, and trainings that strengthen farm to school supply chains, or provide technical assistance in the area of local procurement, food safety, culinary education, and integration of agriculture‐based curriculum
Planning awards range from $20,000 - $45,000 and a 25% match of the total project cost is required.
Implementation and support service awards range from $65,000 - $100,000 and a 25% match of the total project cost is required.
Conference and event awards range from $15,000 - $50,000 and there is no match requirement.

40. Timeline Award Announcement for FY2017 Farm to School Grant
May/June 2017
Award Announcement for FY2017 Farm to School Grant
September/October 2017
Release of FY2018 Farm to School Grant RFA
December 2017
Applications Due for FY2018 RFA
May 2018
Award Announcement for FY 2018 Farm to School Grant

41. End Hunger CT!

42. Quincy Public Schools, MA

43. Northeast Farm to School Institute

44. supply chain development…distribution and storage of local foods…school gardens… menu audits… salad bars… taste testing… curriculum development… farm field trips…advisory groups…
Detailed info on funded projects, by state, is on the website

45. FY 2017 Priorities Priority areas
Projects that impact more than one school and focus on innovative local procurement strategies
Projects that impact school-based summer meals programs
Projects that impact school-based pre-K programming
Projects that build state agency capacity

46. FNS Program Funds State agencies School districts
State Administrative Expense Funds
Team Nutrition Training Grants
School districts
Reimbursement dollars
Farm to School coordinators
Inputs to the school garden
Local food procurement
USDA Foods/DoD Fresh
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)

47. Helpful Webinars Annual webinars specifically on each grant type:
Every open RFA period for each grant type
Recordings online
Trends in successful Farm to School grant applications:
Recording online

48. Resources

51. Non-Federal Funding Sources
State Agencies
Agriculture, health, education, etc.
Local Agencies and Coalitions
Health, planning, etc.
Food policy councils
Foundations and Corporate Giving
Private and public foundations
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (
Local and regional businesses, corporations, etc.
From old slides…I am not sure if Matt will want to totally redo this section and include this in his “grants” discussion.

52. Questions?