Montgomery County is allocating $600,000 in one-time food system infrastructure grants for projects to advance a more equitable and sustainable food system in the County.
Donor Name: Montgomery County
State: Pennsylvania
County: Montgomery County (PA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/30/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The grants will support sustainable projects that have a transformative impact on Montgomery County communities and food systems.
Projects that have strong community leadership, are collaborative, involve multiple project partners, and that impact marginalized communities will be prioritized. Here are some examples of the types of projects that will meet the grant criteria:
- Increasing market access or other opportunities for farmers
- Improving food security
- Reducing food waste
- Increasing consumer access to local food
- Supporting the local food economy
- Improving the school food environment
- Supporting gardening, nutrition, or other relevant food systems education.
Example Projects
The Food Systems Infrastructure Grant will support a range of projects across different sectors of the food system and at different scales. Examples of different scale projects may include:
- Small Scale (Under $20,000)
- An EBT reader for a farmers’ market
- Fencing, irrigation, or other equipment for a school or community garden
- Refrigeration, freezers, or other equipment for a pantry, farmstand, or other community food project
- Medium Scale ($20,000 – $75,000)
- Food lockers that enable easier access for food pantry clients
- Establishment of a community orchard
- Expansion of composting infrastructure
- Large Scale ($75,000+)
- A mobile market that sources food from local growers and sells in low food access communities.
- A nutrition incentive program that supports local food retailers and encourages consumption of fruits and vegetables.
- A community kitchen that provides educational, entrepreneurial, and food access opportunities.
Uses of Funds
- Priority will be given to projects that are purchasing equipment and infrastructure.
- Funds may be used for operational and programmatic expenses.
- These funds are not intended to be used to purchase food for distribution.
- Small, medium, and large-scale projects will be considered, and partial funds may be awarded to accommodate the most projects possible. There is no cap on the amount asked for a project; however, the goal of this program is to support multiple diverse projects with the limited funds ($600,000) available.
Eligibility Criteria
Any non-profit, for profit, municipal government, or other entity operating within or outside Montgomery County using the funds for projects that benefit Montgomery County residents is eligible to apply.
For more information, visit Montgomery County.