America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant Opportunity

Administrator: Department of Human Services, Office of Economic Opportunity (DHS OEO) coordinated by Hunger Solutions Minnesota

Geographic Scope: Minnesota

Focus Areas:

• Increase availability of culturally connected foods
• Build capacity of historically underinvested and underserved communities
• Specifically: BIPOC and rural communities
• Address unmet needs and lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic

Award Details:

• Total ARPA funding from federal government: $14,000,000
• Allocated to food shelves and meal programs: $4,230,000
• Allocated to Tribal Nations: $4,200,000
• Allocated to food bank partners: $4,300,000
• Allocated to SNAP Outreach: $1,000,000
• TEFAP Food Shelves eligible for: $12,000 base + additional funds based on food shelf service statistics
• TEFAP On-Site Meal Programs eligible for: $5,000

Eligible Uses:

• Purchase, produce, process, transport, store, and coordinate distribution of nutritious food
• Food purchases
• Transportation costs
• Technology
• Operating costs
• Cooking and safe storage equipment
• Refrigeration and storage needs
• Mobile food distribution costs
• PPE
• COVID-19 related items

Eligibility:

• Current Food Shelves participating in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
• Current On-Site Meal Program providers of TEFAP
• Must be in good standing with TEFAP and regional food bank
• 501(c)(3) status or Tribal Nations

Estimated Disbursement: May 1, 2022

• Phone: 763-450-3860
• Address: 8501 54th Avenue North, New Hope, MN 55428

Additional Notes:

• Instructions provided specifically for food shelves and meal programs
• Separate instructions for Tribal Nations, Food Banks, and SNAP Outreach providers

Application Process

Application Period:

• Opens: March 14, 2022
• Closes: April 1, 2022 (CLOSED)

Steps:

1. Complete online application
2. Submit no later than April 1, 2022

Coordination:

• Hunger Solutions Minnesota (HSM) coordinates the application process
• HSM disperses funds on behalf of DHS OEO

Reporting:

• Final Report due: July 15, 2023