The deadline is March 31, 2014.

The USDA has issued a request for applications for the 2014 Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program. Grants go to projects that work toward developing community food sovereignty, responding to the nutritional and educational needs of low-income individuals, and planning and innovating food systems solutions. Grants are awarded up to $250,000, and this year, you don’t have to be a 501(c)(3) to apply. The deadline is March 31, 2014.

For assistance with your application, see the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment (PDF) and First Nations Development Institute (PDF).

On WhyHunger’s Connect blog, we regularly profile previous CFP grantees through stories and photos to vibrantly illustrate how each project impacts individuals and their communities. The entire collection of previous grantees and their stories can be found on WhyHunger’s Food Security Learning Center, at the Community Food Projects database.

For example, Community Services Unlimited, a 2011 grantee (and a partner in WhyHunger’s first Community Learning Partnership), built a “food village” in South Central Los Angeles which includes an urban farm and market that offers quality produce at an affordable cost to low-income residents. Their youth training program builds skills in food production and marketing and involves the south L.A. community in creating a just food system. A 2002 and 2006 CFP recipient, the Taos County Economic Development Corporation, used the funds to build a mobile slaughterhouse and develop a business education program for livestock ranchers.

WhyHunger’s Food Security Learning Center is also funded by the grant.

To download the CFP application directly, submit your email address on Grants.gov Community Food Projects grant page.