Food Access Grants

Posted by on May 14, 2012

The Reinvestment Fund, Inc. Request for Proposals – Food Access Grants

Introduction
The Reinvestment Fund (TRF) invites proposals from food related non-profit organizations for grants to support innovative solutions to food access problems within Pennsylvania. Grants of up to $95,000 will be awarded to non-profit organizations for predevelopment and programmatic activities for projects that will extend access to healthy food choices for more Pennsylvanians. TRF extends this invitation with support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Eligible applicants must comply with all standards set forth in this document as well as further requirements determined by TRF as necessary. TRF retains sole discretion with respect to the approval or disapproval of any proposal.

Background
Established in 1985 and headquartered in Philadelphia, TRF is among the most effective and largest community development financial institutions (CDFI) in the nation and a permanent source of reliable capital serving low-income communities across the mid-Atlantic. TRF takes a comprehensive approach to community development by investing in affordable homes, charter schools, community cultural facilities, supermarkets, and sustainable energy projects — the assets, amenities and resources that Pennsylvania’s communities and families need to thrive.

Goals
The goals of this program are to assist food-based non-profits which undertake programs and projects that will expand underserved Pennsylvania residents’ access to healthy food choices; create and preserve quality jobs; and to foster an environment that supports the development of community based food cooperatives.

Eligible Applicants
Food Access grants are intended to support the Pennsylvania-based efforts of many different types of non-profit organizations, including community-based organizations, statewide or national advocacy groups, existing and start-up food cooperative companies, food banks, and food access based organizations. Applicants may submit only one proposal.

Geographic Eligibility
Eligible applicants will have projects located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Priority will be given to projects which are located in a low or moderate income community or projects whose primary impact is a low or moderate income community (e.g. Organization’s headquarters are in Center City Philadelphia but the community the organization’s project will impact is in a North Philadelphia neighborhood where the AMI is 80%).

Grant Disbursement and Uses
Grants awards of up to $95,000 will be made, with a limit of one grant per recipient and project. The grant amount will be determined by TRF, taking into account the applicant’s project need, available funds, and other criteria. The most competitive grant proposals will fall below the maximum and leverage other sources of funding.

The following activities are eligible uses of the grant dollars:
– To fund activities related to predevelopment expenses in the expansion or creation of a food access real estate project. Funded activities may include:
o Phase I and Phase II Environmental Investigations;
o Architect and Engineering fees;
o Market studies;
o Feasibility studies;
o Appraisals;
o Surveys;
o Financial and development consultants;
o Legal fees;
o Other fees associated with obtaining zoning approvals;
o Deposits to establish site control; and
o Other expenses reviewed and approved by TRF.

Examples of anticipated projects applying for funding of these activities include: Start-up food cooperatives needing funding for a market study, location analysis, or feasibility consulting; and a food-based non-profit in the beginning stages of undertaking a real estate project that will allow them to expand services and outreach programs.
– To fund activities related to an existing or new program which has a primary goal of expanding access to healthy food choices for an underserved community. Funded activities may include:
o Purchase of equipment (e.g. hand-held EBT machine, refrigerated case, shelving, etc.);
o Start-up operation funds for a food access program with measurable outcomes (e.g. consultant costs; marketing materials, etc); and
o Other expenses reviewed and approved by TRF.
Examples of anticipated projects applying for funding of these activities include: Purchase of EBT card machines for vendors at a permanent farmer’s market to be able to serve families receiving SNAP benefits; Creation of a healthy food retail market in an underserved neighborhood; and Program that improves or expands healthy food choices available in a K-12 school.

– Applicants may request other grant uses with explanation.

Food Access Grants may not be used for general operating costs, litigation, lobbying or scholarships.
The expenditure of grant funds may be audited or otherwise reviewed by TRF or its representative. The Grant Agreement will require the applicant to maintain complete financial records for all of its costs paid for by the grant for five years after the final grant report (“Closeout Report”) and to cooperate in any audit or other review.

The Grant Agreement will provide that any material nonperformance by the applicant will cause the applicant to be excluded from consideration by TRF for future loans or grant awards.

Reporting
The Grant Agreement will require the applicant to submit a Closeout Report the later of 6 months after the date of the Grant Agreement or December 31, 2012. The Closeout Report will include, but not be limited to:
– Description of how the grant funds were used and benefitted the community where the project was located; and
– Evidence of jobs created and preserved.

Proposal Schedule
All proposals must be submitted to
The Reinvestment Fund
1700 Market St., 19th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attn.: Food Access Grant
215.574.5800
Or
E-mail a copy to foodgrant@trfund.com

Proposals will be accepted in one round with a submission deadline of June 1, 2012. Should all funds not be granted in the first round, TRF will offer a second round of funding. Grant award notices will be made within 60 days of the RFP submission deadline. Applicants selected to receive a grant will enter into a contract with TRF. The contract (grant agreement) must be signed and returned within 10 days or the grant offer may be withdrawn. Grant funds will be disbursed upon satisfactory evidence of eligible costs incurred and must be drawn within 12 months of signing the grant agreement. Any grant funds not drawn or utilized by the grantee for eligible purposes within the disbursement period will be forfeited.

Selection Process

TRF will review each proposal received by the due date for completeness and to determine to what degree a proposal meets the selection criteria and whether a proposal should be given additional consideration.

Selection Criteria
TRF will award grants based on the quality of the proposal, the fit of the proposed project with program goals, and the likelihood that the proposed project can be carried out effectively. TRF reserves the right to reject all proposals. Specific criteria to be used in judging proposals include:
– Degree to which proposed project will expand access to healthy food choices for underserved PA residents.
– Degree to which high-quality jobs created or preserved.
– Ability to leverage other funding.
– Demonstrated relationship of proposed project to applicant’s mission.
– Experience and organizational capacity of applicant.
– Degree of creativity and innovation in proposal.
– Demonstrated sustainability of the project beyond its first year of operations.

Special consideration will be given to applicants whose proposed projects will result in expanded access to healthy food choices for the following groups: minorities, children, and low-income residents.