The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), is seeking applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP).
Donor Name: Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
States: Alaska and Hawaii
County: All Counties
U.S. Territories: American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/06/2023
Size of the Grant: $3,040,000
Grant Duration: 4 years
Details:
The Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP) will award grants to eligible agencies or departments of agriculture for the competitive distribution of subawards that increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food through smallscale gardening, herding, and livestock operations in areas of the United States that have significant levels of food insecurity and import a significant quantity of food.
Micro-Grants for Food Security Program (MGFSP) assists agricultural agencies or departments in Alaska, Hawaii, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food through small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations in food insecure communities in areas of the United States that have significant levels of food insecurity and import a significant quantity of foods.
Subaward Priority Consideration
Agricultural agencies or state departments may prioritize subawards to eligible entities that:
- Have not previously received a subaward under this program; or
- Are in a community or region in that state with the highest degree of food insecurity, as determined by the agricultural department or agency of the eligible state.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $7,600,000
- Award Ceiling: $3,040,000
- Award Floor: $190,000
Grant Period
The grant period of performance for agreements between AMS and the eligible applicant is 4 years.
Eligible Activities
Eligible entities must engage in activities that will increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food for food insecure individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities. Activities may include:
- Small-Scale Gardening
- An eligible entity may use funds to purchase gardening tools or equipment, soil, soil amendments, seeds, plants, canning equipment, refrigeration, or other items necessary to grow and store food. Additionally, funds may be used for the purchase or assembly of composting units and towers designed to grow leafy greens. This includes activities associated with extending the growing season, as well as starting or expanding hydroponic and aeroponic farming.
- Small-Scale Herding and Livestock Operations
- An eligible entity may use funds to purchase animals as well as buy, erect, or repair fencing for livestock, poultry, or reindeer. It may also fund activities or supplies associated with setting up or equipping a slaughter and processing facility approved by the Secretary, including purchasing mobile slaughterhouses.
- Expanding Access to Food and Knowledge of Food Security
- An eligible entity may use funds to create or expand avenues for the sale of food commodities, specialty crops, and meats that are grown by the eligible entity for sale in the local community, or increase the availability of fresh, locally grown, and nutritious food. This includes paying for shipping of purchased items related to growing or raising food for local consumption or purchase.
- It may also fund travel to participate in agricultural education provided by a state cooperative extension service, land-grant college or university, tribal college or university, Alaska Nativeserving institution, or a Native Hawaiian-serving institution, or federal or state agency.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible entities must be physically located in an eligible state or territory. Eligible Applicants and must apply directly to the eligible applicant in order to be considered for a subaward.
Eligible entities are:
- Individuals;
- Indian tribes or Tribal organizations as defined in 25 U.S.C. § 5304;
- Nonprofit organizations that are engaged in increasing food security, including—
- Religious organizations;
- Food banks; or
- Food pantries;
- Federally funded educational facilities, including—
- Head Start programs or an Early Head Start programs;
- Public elementary schools or public secondary schools;
- Public institutions of higher education;
- Tribal Colleges or Universities;
- Job training programs; or
- Local or Tribal governments that may not levy local taxes under State or Federal law.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
