Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program

The Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program, administered by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, aims to strengthen local food systems by connecting farmers and food producers to improve access to locally sourced food. With funding of up to $1,000,000 available, eligible applicants include local producers, community organizations, and food banks. This initiative promotes food security by ensuring equitable access to nutritious food across the Commonwealth, thereby enhancing community resilience and sustainability.

Funding for projects that ensure that farmers, fishermen, and other local food producers are better connected to a strong, resilient food system while providing greater, more equitable access to local food.
Background
Food Security is defined as access, by all people at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life (USDA, 2020).
The FSIG Program seeks to ensure that farmers, commercial fishermen, and other local food producers are better engaged with a strong, resilient food system to help mitigate food supply and distribution disruptions, as well as to ensure that individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth have equitable access to food, with a focus on food that is produced locally.
Eligible grantees include applicants that are part of the Massachusetts local food system including producers, processors, and distributors; emergency food distributors; community and food organizations; school meal programs (including summer meal sponsors); urban farms and community gardens; and nonprofit food security organizations. Applicants may be those representing farms, small, independent grocery stores, food banks, commercial fishing operations, seafood dealers and processors, and other food system businesses or organizations focused on addressing food access and/or improving and strengthening the resiliency of the Commonwealth’s food system by increasing distribution of Locally Grown Food.
Funding
This call for grant proposals is subject to and contingent upon the availability of funds. Funding is anticipated to be awarded in amounts up to $1,000,000. Applicants requesting over $10,000 are required to demonstrate a of 20% cash match of total project costs.