Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program
FAQ's
What is the DUNS number requirement for a federal grant?
All applicants for federal grant programs and cooperative agreements are required to have a Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. A DUNS number is a nine-digit number used to uniquely identify businesses. The identifier will be used for tracking purposes, and to validate address and point of contact information. There is no charge for obtaining a DUNS number. You can request a DUNS number online at : http://dnb.com/US/duns_update/, or by calling 1-866-705-5711.
How do I get application materials?
Program application materials are available at the CSREES Funding Opportunities web site (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/funding/cfm). If you would like a hardcopy, request the RFA and associated application forms for the Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program at 202-401-5048 or psb@csrees.usda.gov
What is the amount of funding?
There is no commitment by USDA to fund any particular application or to make a specific number of awards. The amount of funds available in FY 2005 for support of grant awards under this program is approximately $4,600,000. Of that amount, up to $500,000 may be awarded for Training and Technical Assistance Projects.
Who is eligible to receive a CFP grant?
Private, nonprofit entities meeting the following three requirements are eligible to receive a Community Food Project grant:
(a) have experience in the area of community food work, particularly concerning small and medium-size farms, including the provision of food to people in low-income communities and the development of new markets in low-income communities for agricultural producers; or job training and business development activities for food-related activities in low-income communities;
(b) demonstrate competency to implement a project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation; and
(c) demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, practitioners, and other interested parties.
What are the requirements to receive a training and technical assistance (T&TA) grant?
Private, nonprofit or other entities meeting the following three requirements are eligible to apply for and receive a T&TA grant under this program:
(a) have the capacity to provide, on a regional or national basis, training and technical assistance in community food security, including the assessment of community food needs, appraisal of existing community assets pertaining to food security issues, coalition building, project development, evaluation and completion, proposal preparation, and/or fund raising;
(b) demonstrate competency to implement a T&TA Project, provide fiscal accountability, collect data, and prepare reports and other necessary documentation; and
(c) demonstrate a willingness to share information with researchers, evaluators, practitioners, and other interested parties, including a plan for dissemination of results.
What is the purpose of the CFPCGP?
These grants are intended to help eligible private nonprofit entities that need a one-time infusion of federal assistance to establish and carry out multipurpose community food projects. The purpose of the CFPCGP is to support the development of Community Food Projects (CFP) with a one-time infusion of Federal dollars to make such projects self-sustaining.
How do Community Food Projects increase food security?
Community Food Projects are designed to increase food security in communities by bringing the whole food system together to assess strengths, establish linkages, and create systems that improve the self-reliance of community members over their food needs.
What is the CFP Program designed to do?
(a)Meet the needs of low-income people by increasing their access to fresher, more nutritious food supplies; (b)Increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs;
(c)Promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues.
What additional requirements do projects have to meet?
(a)Meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs for infrastructure improvement and development.
(b)Plan for long-term solutions.
(c)Create innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.
What makes a project preferred?
Preferred projects also develop linkages between two or more sectors of the food system, support the development of entrepreneurial projects, develop innovative linkages between the for-profit and nonprofit food sectors, encourage long-term planning activities and multisystem, interagency approaches with multistakeholder collaborations. These linkages build long-term capacity of communities to address the food and agricultural problems of communities, such as food policy councils and food planning associations.
