Community Food Grants to be awarded
STILLWATER, Okla. – The Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program is accepting applications for new grants to be dispersed to needy U.S. community programs. Almost $5 million has been allocated to fund these projects.
The CFPCGP is a program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service. The program supports the funding of projects to help individual entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations with long-term solutions to agricultural and community projects.
“This program is a great opportunity for individuals and groups with little to no resources to truly help a community not just for today, but to help them to become more independent tomorrow,” said Andrea Graves, FAPC business planning and marketing specialist.
Since 1996, the CFPCG projects have helped meet the food needs of low-income people, have increased the self reliance of communities by providing for their own food needs and have helped meet food agricultural needs for infrastructure and development, said Mike Everett, Southwest plains field coordinator for the program.
The program promotes comprehensive responses to local farm and nutrition issues and the creation of innovative marketing activities that are mutually beneficial to agricultural producers and low-income consumers, Everett said.
Project funding ranges from $10,000 – $300,000 and spans from one to three years. They are one-time grants that require a dollar-for-dollar match in
resources.
To be considered for a grant, applicants must first electronically submit a letter of intent to
www.grants.gov by Feb. 13, 2007. Upon evaluation of the letter, selected applicants will be required to submit a full proposal. This process can take several months to complete, so those interested are encouraged to file a letter of intent as soon as possible.
“If you aren’t sure you should apply, the Community Food Security Coalition will sponsor up to 75 minutes of free telephone assistance to help guide you before filing electronically as required,” Graves said. “The technical assistance specialists will help with questions and eligibility, and they even will help with plans, the proposal and evaluation of the project.”
Technical support contacts, tips and other information for the CFPCG application is available at
www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/funding.cfm. In addition, free guides for planning proposals, letters of intent and successful examples of CFP grant proposals can be found at www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html.
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CONTACT:
Andrea Graves
Business Planning and Marketing Specialist
Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center
148 FAPC
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-6071
Fax: 405-744-6313
E-Mail: andrea.graves@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating. The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.
