The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting applications for the Good Food Access Program (GFAP) Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant.
Donor Name: Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
State: Minnesota
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/16/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The grant offers funding for equipment and physical improvements to grocery stores and small food retailers who sell nutritious and culturally appropriate foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, in low-income and moderate-income areas.
Funding Information
MDA expects to award up to $935,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2025.
- Minimum award: $5,000.
- Maximum award: $75,000.
Grant Period
2 years.
Eligible Projects and Expenses
GFAP Equipment and Physical Improvement Grants help grocery stores and small food retailers make physical improvements and purchase equipment to stimulate sales of nutritious and culturally appropriate foods. Eligible projects include the purchase and installation of equipment and the costs incurred to make physical improvements.
Projects must:
- Increase the availability of and access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food (including produce) for underserved communities in low- and moderate-income areas. This does not include prepared or cooked food intended for immediate consumption.
- Be conducted in Minnesota.
- Not start until the grant contract is signed by all parties and has reached its start date (estimated to be around May 2025).
- Be completed in two years or less. Contracts can be extended an additional year with the approval of the program administrator.
Project examples:
- Retail display coolers and freezers
- Storage coolers and freezers
- Shelving
- Mobile food markets
- Permanent infrastructure at farmers’ markets
- Architectural work
- Electrical work
- Costs associated with the installation of equipment.
Eligibility Criteria
For-profit and not-for-profit grocery stores and small food retailers engaged in the sale of nutritious and culturally appropriate foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, are eligible to apply. Applicants must be in or serve a census tract designated as a food desert or must serve a substantial subpopulation, such as the aging population, those living with a disability, or those in a low- or moderate-income census tract who have low supermarket access.
Applicants must:
- Be in good standing with the State of Minnesota:
- No back taxes owed.
- No defaults on Minnesota state-backed financing for the last seven years.
- Acceptable performance on past MDA grants.
- Compliant with current state regulations, or this project will support the organization becoming compliant.
For more information, visit MDA.
