New Jersey Innovative Healthy Food Retail Initiative
This initiative provides funding to community-focused projects that improve access to affordable, nutritious food in underserved, low-income areas of New Jersey, addressing food insecurity and promoting economic growth.
The New Jersey Innovative Healthy Food Retail Initiative aims to improve access to affordable, nutritious food in underserved, low-income areas of New Jersey by funding community-focused and innovative food retail projects. This initiative seeks to address food insecurity, support economic growth, and advance health equity by prioritizing innovative approaches to food access. Key Details: Goals: Improve access to healthy food in low-income areas, support community-led innovative food retail projects, and promote economic growth in underserved New Jersey communities. Duration: This is a two-year effort running from 2024-2026. Funders: The initiative is co-administered by Reinvestment Fund and The Food Trust, with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Grant Awards: Award Size: Up to $1,500,000 will be allocated, with individual grants of up to $200,000. Number of Grants: Approximately 5-10 grants will be awarded. Eligible Uses of Funds: Grants will support innovative business models that improve the food supply chain, such as: Wholesale and retail businesses Non-traditional mobile and e-commerce food retail Cooperative ownership and collective purchasing Community engagement strategies with grocers Partnerships with anchor institutions or developers Eligibility Criteria: Projects must serve an underserved community with significant food insecurity or poverty. The project must expand or preserve access to fresh, affordable foods, including perishable and staple foods. Eligible projects must: Serve a low to moderate-income area with a median family income at or below 80% of the local median income. Be located in a Low Supermarket Access (LSA) area or a New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) designated Food Desert Community. You can use an interactive eligibility map to verify if a location qualifies for the initiative. Application Process: For more details on how to apply, including specific use of funds and project eligibility, interested applicants are encouraged to review the Request for Applications (RFA) and contact the initiative for any questions regarding eligibility or location verification. This initiative provides a one-time investment designed to foster innovative food retail solutions in communities facing barriers to healthy food access.
Award Range
Not specified - Not specified
Total Program Funding
$1,500,000
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Eligibility Due to the significant disparities in food access across New Jersey, to be considered for the Initiative, interested applicants must propose a healthy food retail project in an eligible underserved community. An eligible project will expand or preserve the availability of an assortment of staple and perishable foods in communities experiencing higher rates of hunger and poverty and historically limited access to fresh, affordable foods. To be determined eligible for the Initiative, your project must: Serve a low to moderate income area with a median family income equal to or below 80% of median local income levels. Serve a Low Supermarket Access (LSA) area or be in a New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) designated Food Desert Community.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
Not specified
Application Closes
Not specified
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