Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grant Program | USDA NIFA CFP 006084

Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grant Program - FAQs

What is the Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grant Program?

The Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grant Program is a mandatory USDA grant opportunity administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It supports community-driven projects that strengthen local food systems while directly improving food access for low-income residents.

What is the main goal of the CFP program?

The program is designed to fund practical, on-the-ground efforts that do more than provide short-term relief. CFP supports projects that address immediate food needs and also build lasting community capacity to meet those needs over time.

Who administers this grant opportunity?

This grant opportunity is administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

What kinds of communities or residents does CFP aim to serve?

A central purpose of CFP is to help meet the food needs of low-income individuals in concrete ways, with a focus on improving food access for low-income residents.

Does CFP only fund direct food distribution?

No. While direct food distribution can be part of a CFP project, the program also supports community outreach efforts that help people enroll in or better use federally assisted nutrition programs.

What does CFP mean by improving access to food as part of a comprehensive set of services?

CFP emphasizes that food access is ideally integrated with other supports or strategies rather than treated as a stand-alone activity. Projects are encouraged to connect food access with broader services and community strategies.

What does "community self-reliance" mean in CFP projects?

CFP prioritizes projects that help communities become more capable of producing, sourcing, distributing, and sustaining food access locally, rather than depending only on external or temporary solutions.

What types of issues are CFP projects expected to address?

CFP encourages comprehensive responses to local food access, farm, and nutrition issues. Projects are expected to recognize that food insecurity is tied to interconnected factors such as local agricultural viability, distribution infrastructure, affordability, nutrition education, and market access, and to propose approaches that address those connections.

What are some examples of specific needs or activities CFP may support?

The program targets specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs. Examples mentioned include purchasing or securing equipment needed for efficient project operations, developing plans aimed at long-term solutions, and creating innovative marketing activities that benefit both agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

Does CFP support equipment purchases?

Yes. The opportunity description includes purchasing or securing equipment needed for efficient project operations as one of the concrete categories projects may address.

Does CFP support planning activities?

Yes. The description notes developing plans aimed at long-term solutions rather than short-lived interventions as an eligible focus area for projects.

What does CFP mean by "innovative marketing activities"?

The opportunity highlights marketing strategies that benefit both agricultural producers and low-income consumers. This indicates support for approaches that strengthen local producer markets while also improving affordability and access for low-income households.

How does CFP connect farmers and low-income consumers?

CFP signals interest in strategies that create a mutually reinforcing relationship between local producers and the communities they serve by improving market opportunities for producers while improving affordability and access for low-income households.

What is the funding activity area for this grant?

The opportunity is categorized as a grant in the Agriculture funding activity area.

What is the CFDA number for this program?

The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 10.225.

What is the funding opportunity number for this CFP listing?

The funding opportunity number provided is USDA NIFA CFP 006084.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements described in Part III, A of the official Request for Applications (RFA). The listing shows the eligible applicant category as "Others," but the controlling eligibility details are in the RFA section referenced.

What does the eligible applicant category "Others" mean?

The listing indicates "Others," which typically suggests eligibility may extend beyond standard government entities. However, the definitive eligibility rules are those stated in Part III, A of the RFA.

Where can I find the official eligibility requirements?

The public summary points applicants to Part III, A of the official Request for Applications (RFA) for eligibility requirements.

When was the application closing date for the listed cycle?

The original closing date for the listed cycle was November 30, 2016.

When was this opportunity record created?

The opportunity record was created on October 7, 2016.

Is the award ceiling listed in the provided information?

No. The public summary does not specify an award ceiling in the provided data. That information would need to be confirmed in the full RFA or related program materials.

Does the provided information state how many awards are expected?

No. The public summary does not include the expected number of awards in the provided data, so this would need to be confirmed in the full RFA or related program materials.

Where should applicants look for missing details like funding limits or number of awards?

The summary indicates that details not shown in the provided data (such as award ceiling and expected number of awards) should be confirmed in the full Request for Applications (RFA) or related program materials.