Baker-Polito Administration Announces $28.5
Million in Available Funding for FY24 Food Security Infrastructure Grants
Administration Also Awards $7 Million in Food
Assistance Grants
BOSTON – Working
to combat against food insecurity throughout the Commonwealth, the Baker-Polito
Administration today announced the availability of $28.5 million in funding for
the FY24 Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) Program. This funding will
allow the Commonwealth to ensure equitable access to healthy, locally-produced
food for individuals and families throughout the state. In order to best
support applicants within the state’s local food production and distribution
system, the FSIG Program administrators will be hosting two virtual question
and answer sessions on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, from 1:00PM to 3:00PM and
Thursday, January 5, 2023, from 4:00PM to 6:00PM to answer potential applicant
questions related to project ideas, as well as hear any feedback in response to
previous rounds. Following these sessions, a Request for Responses (RFR) will
be issued, seeking proposals from stakeholders.
Additionally,
the Baker-Polito Administration is awarding $7,260,000 in Local Food Purchase
Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) grants to 16
organizations across the Commonwealth. The grants, which are funded through the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), seek to maintain and
improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency through the purchase of
domestic food from local and regional producers, by targeting purchases from
socially disadvantaged farmers and producers, and the distribution to
underserved communities.
“While the Food Security Infrastructure Grant
Program was created as part of our Administration’s response to the COVID-19
pandemic, through this next $28.5 million, we will be able to continue to
utilize this important initiative to ensure access to healthy, locally produced
food for all residents throughout the state,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The $7.2 million that we are awarding through the Local
Food Purchase Assistance Program will further our efforts to invest in the
Commonwealth’s food supply chain, creating a stronger and more resilient food
system.”
“Food insecurity continues to be a significant
issue throughout the Commonwealth and it is important that we continue to
ensure programs across the state are being provided the resources they need to
meet the demand that they are receiving,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Our Administration is proud to announce
this new funding to further the critical work of ensuring greater access to
healthy, locally produced food for all residents.”
The FSIG Program was created to provide grants for capital infrastructure
investments that increase access to locally produced food for families and
individuals throughout the state who may be facing food insecurity, live in
gateway cities or food deserts, or who otherwise face unequal access to food.
Additionally, FSIG works to mitigate future supply and distribution issues by
partnering with local fishermen, farmers, and other producers to create a
strong and resilient food system. The Administration initially announced the program in May 2020
and has since awarded $63 million to 507 organizations throughout
Massachusetts.
“The
accomplishments from the first two years of the Food Security Infrastructure
Grant Program have shown how critical this funding is to strengthen the
Commonwealth’s food supply system and prevent future disruptions from
coming,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card. “Through
FSIG and other important initiatives like the Local Food Purchase Assistance
Cooperative Agreement Program, we will continue to make great strides in
ensuring everyone throughout Massachusetts has great access to healthy, locally
grown products to enjoy.”
Furthermore,
the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program seeks to
maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency by working
directly with socially disadvantaged farmers and producers to give food to
underserved communities. Importantly, the food will meet the needs of the local
and regional populations and serve feeding programs, including food banks,
schools, and organizations that reach underserved communities. In addition to
increasing local food consumption, funds will help build and expand economic
opportunities for local and socially disadvantaged producers.
“The
Baker-Polito Administration greatly appreciates the partnership with the USDA
to provide these Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement grants to
our Massachusetts farmers and agricultural organizations to purchase local food
from our historically underserved farmers, as well as to distribute the food at
no cost to our underserved communities,” said MDAR Commissioner John
Lebeaux. “We are excited to be able to provide over $7 million in
funds to 16 organizations that will greatly assist with the long-term viability
of agriculture in Massachusetts.”
The
following are the grant recipients for 2023:
Berkshire Grown – Great Barrington, MA
Award:
$550,000
- Berkshire Grown will strengthen
purchasing relationships with socially disadvantaged farmers through their
Berkshire Farm to Food Access Partnership Program to distribute to new and
existing food sites. Berkshire Grown plans to establish an online ordering
system, update purchasing contracts, expand the selection of local food
and farm products, recruit volunteers for food delivery, prepare food
storage locations, and finally distribute the food and farm products to
underserved communities.
Boston Area Gleaners – Waltham, MA
Award:
$539,228
- Boston Area Gleaners aims to
apply current best practices to targeted communities of socially
disadvantaged and/or small growers and underserved consumers. Boston Area
Gleaners will: determine which farmers within their network self-identify
as socially disadvantaged and/or small; purchase crops from these growers
through formal production contracts; support these growers in capacity
building and wholesale market readiness; and donate the contract-grown fresh
produce through their partner hunger-relief agencies.
Cape Cod Cooperative Extension – Barnstable, MA
Award:
$450,530
- The Cape Cod Cooperative
Extension Food Access Program developed a multi-faceted initiative to
support the critical food access needs of its disadvantaged populations
throughout Cape Cod by: purchasing produce from local and regional farmers
with an emphasis on socially disadvantaged growers in collaboration with
Cape Abilities Farm; supporting the Cape Cod fishing industry by purchasing
locally caught and processed haddock chowder and fish stew from Cape Cod
Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance that will be available, at no cost, to
socially underserved communities on Cape Cod through a strategically
designed network of distribution channels; and strengthening the existing
network of growers, food producers, social service organizations,
underserved communities, and local volunteers to maintain a sustainable
food access system.
Coastal Foodshed – New Bedford, MA
Award:
$697,121
- Coastal Foodshed will work
through their existing network of more than 65 local farmers and local
food entrepreneurs to purchase local meats, eggs, dairy, and pantry items
to distribute free of charge at farmers market and mobile farm stand
locations to increase awareness of, and foot traffic to, Coastal
Foodshed’s locations. Through a robust marketing campaign, and the
distribution of items free of charge, they plan to increase foot traffic
to Coastal Foodshed’s locations where new customers will also have the
opportunity to purchase other local foods and learn about the Healthy
Incentives Program.
Eastern Woodlands Rematriation – Hull, MA
Award:
$161,000
- The overarching goal of Eastern
Woodlands Rematriation’s project is to strengthen and fortify indigenous
foodways of New England. Through regional intertribal food hubs, this
project will scale existing efforts of Eastern Woodlands Rematriation and
enable tribal families, and disadvantaged individuals and communities
throughout the Commonwealth to access fresh, nutritional and culturally
relevant foods and products without worry of affordability and
accessibility.
Eastie Farm – East Boston, MA
Award:
$539,032
- Eastie Farm will purchase local
produce from farms primarily within 100 miles of Boston to create free
weekly produce boxes for residents of East Boston, with an emphasis on
subsidized housing communities and the underserved Orient Heights part of
the neighborhood. The boxes will be primarily available during the harvest
season, projected to be from May to November of 2023. The distribution
will be accomplished through collaboration with the Orient Heights BHA
benefits team, the Victory Gardens building management, Maverick Landing
Community Services, and Grace Federated Food Pantry.
Greater Boston Food Bank – Boston, MA
Award:
$500,000
- Greater Boston Food Bank will
purchase seafood from seafood producers and distributors in Massachusetts.
With a greater capacity to purchase seafood, they will support the needs
of two important constituencies in the Commonwealth—those who are seeking
hunger relief along with local fish producers and distributors. Through
the purchase of 150,000–200,000 pounds of seafood, they will greatly
increase the amount of seafood distributed through their network of 600
partnering agencies located in 190 communities in Eastern Massachusetts.
This network includes food pantries, meal programs, homeless shelters, and
other human services agencies. Seafood distributions will benefit diverse
populations including adults, children, seniors, veterans, community
health center patients, and students.
Grow Food Northampton – Florence, MA
Award:
$398,159
- Grow Food Northampton will
partner with local community-owned food cooperative River Valley Co-op to
provide technical support to socially disadvantaged local producers and
purchase products from them for distribution through their established
programs, Community Food Distribution Project and Food For All,
respectively, to low-income, food insecure households throughout the
Northampton area.
Growing Places – Leominster, MA
Award:
$749,577
- Growing Places will implement
the Local Food Works Fresh Box program, which will strengthen agricultural
supply chain resiliency in the 27 communities of North Central MA. Primary
goals include: making local food purchasing from small and socially disadvantaged
farmers a priority value by connecting farmers, consumers, and buyers;
processing local food products for season extension and easy preparation;
creating culturally responsible Fresh Boxes with local produce, herbs,
dairy, eggs, and value added products for distribution; supporting
socially disadvantaged and small farmers; and institutionalizing a
cultural food working group to incorporate an equity lens into rebuilding
the local food system.
Hilltown CDC – Chesterfield, MA
Award:
$75,000
- Hilltown CDC will grow the
“free-share” option currently offered and develop a “free-market” for in
person shopping. The approach will not only increase food security for
people in the region but will also create viable market opportunities for
rural growers.
Just Roots – Greenfield, MA
Award:
$492,786
- Just Roots’ BE-LEAF: Building
Equity for Local Eaters and Farmers program will connect local produce and
proteins from Just Roots’ community farm and socially disadvantaged
producers with members of underserved communities in Franklin, Hampshire,
and Hampden counties. The two core program components include distribution
of 100 free CSA shares and monthly distribution of 30 free DIY Cooking
Kits, accompanied by cooking classes. The DIY Cooking Kits will contain
local produce, proteins, and all the supplies needed to prepare a healthy
meal.
Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA/Mass) – Barre, MA
Award:
$246,366
- NOFA will use funding to
provide 150 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares to underserved
communities in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and the Berkshires. This
project will establish a new food distribution pathway through community
partners embedded within the communities this project seeks to serve.
Funding will be used to purchase CSA shares from socially disadvantaged
farmers to give to community partners for distribution within their
communities.
Pioneer Valley Workers Center – Northampton, MA
Award:
$530,000
- The Pioneer Valley Workers
Center’s People’s Pantry (La Despensa del Pueblo) will distribute local
and regional produce, dairy, eggs, meat, and other healthy foods to over
9,350 immigrants, low-wage workers, people of color, underserved
populations, and anyone else in need. They will partner with
Massachusetts-based and regional producers, with an emphasis on supporting
socially disadvantaged farmers, to bring farm-fresh food and its positive
health benefits to these communities at monthly distribution sites in
Hampden and Franklin County. Lastly, they will establish a new center in
Turners Falls that will serve as a thriving community resource for food
storage, distributions, and other training and events that support food
justice and equity for underserved local residents.
Regional Environmental Council – Worcester, MA
Award:
$81,200
- The Regional Environmental
Council will coordinate the purchase and distribution of produce grown in
Worcester County through partnerships with rural and urban producers and Main
South area food pantries including Jeremiah’s Inn, El Buen Samaritano, and
Catholic Charities. Produce will be purchased primarily from Dismas Family
Farm, a program of Dismas House of Massachusetts, a charitable agency that
manages a network of housing and social services that provide an
integrated and unique approach to ensure the success of homeless and
former prisoners in the Greater Worcester area.
Root NS, Inc. – Salem, MA
Award:
$500,000
- Root NS, Inc. will build on and
expand their Community Catering initiative, which was launched during the
early days of the pandemic in response to regional food insecurity issues
across the North Shore of Massachusetts and has grown through a network of
partnerships with local farmers and nonprofit distribution sites. The
project will provide employment opportunities to socially disadvantaged
young people, who will prepare and deliver the meals made from local
produce and ingredients.
World Farmers – Lancaster, MA
Award:
$750,000
- World Farmers’ project will expand
sales for over 60 commercial immigrant and refugee farmers in World
Farmers’ programs and other farmers of color in their network, while
addressing food security and serving communities in environmental justice
communities across five counties in Massachusetts. Conducted in
partnership with eight community partners, the project goals are to:
partner with and support refugee and immigrant farmers and farmers of
color in Massachusetts to increase their crops sales through their
participation in the LFPA program; and increase access to local, fresh,
and culturally important vegetables and proteins for low-income or food
impoverished communities.
“FSIG
is one of the strongest, most resilient programs to emerge from the
pandemic,” said State Senator Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “This
latest round of grants through
the LFPA program will bring over $2
million to my district to reduce hunger and to provide more healthy,
affordable, locally-grown food to my constituents. The continued funding for
FSIG speaks to a shared commitment by the Administration and Legislature to
fight food insecurity, tackle diet-related disease, and strengthen our food
system — all at the same time.”
“It's
in a farmers DNA to feed people. Massachusetts farmers want to help eliminate
hunger and get their local, healthy products into food deserts,” said
State Representative Paul Schmid (D-Westport). “These awards and grants from
the Baker-Polito team are making a difference all over the Commonwealth.”
“I am
grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration for their continued investment in,
and prioritization of, the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program,” said
State Representative Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury). “Not only does this
critical program, stood up during the height of COVID, help address the still
high levels of food insecurity prevalent in the Commonwealth, it provides
tremendous support to our local food system by investing in the food producers
who can supply fresh, healthy food and strengthen their own operations.”
“FSIG has been a wonderfully successful program providing
funds to individuals and organizations in the Massachusetts food system that
help produce and distribute food in the commonwealth,” said State Representative Mindy Domb (D-Amherst), Acting
House Chair for the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and
Agriculture. “Since
the inception of the FSIG program, the Legislature has
appropriated $125,570,000 in funds for its operation, supporting
applicants from nearly every municipality. Investing in our food system is
essential in order to respond, relieve, and end hunger in the Commonwealth, and
also to support and strengthen our commonwealth’s agricultural and seafood
economy.”
For
more information about the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Program, please visit MDAR’s program webpage. Additionally,
links to the two FSIG virtual question and answer sessions being hosted in
January 2023 will be posted on the Food Security Infrastructure Grant
Program webpage.
