Food System Resiliency Grant
The Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE), through the Community & Behavioral Health Division, is seeking proposals to address citywide food insecurity as part of the City and County of Denver’s COVID recovery efforts. The Food System Resiliency Grant program will support Denver food system resiliency that focuses grant funds on improving infrastructure, operations, and food systems.
The goal of the funds is to support food systems infrastructure than enables organizations to more effectively obtain, store, and distribute food that would ensure better preparation for future food system crises. However, funds are not eligible for the direct purchasing or distribution of emergency food. By improving the food system infrastructure, the goal is to reduce overall food insecurity in individuals and households experiencing hunger in the City and County of Denver. The funding for this program is from the City’s ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) allocation from the U.S. Treasury.
How much funding is available?
Up to a total of $2,000,000 of federal ARPA funding is available for the Food Resiliency Grant program. Applicants may request funding ranging from a minimum of $50,000 and up to a maximum funding amount – of $1,000,000 including both direct and indirect costs. Proposals requesting over $500,000 total for the grant term must be approved by City Council.
Are applications open?
No. This funding opportunity closed February 21, 2023.
Additional Information
Learn more about the funding, program requirements and priorities, and eligibility.
Program Priorities
Nonprofits operating or providing services within the below list of neighborhoods will be prioritized for funding:
- Elyria- Swansea
- Globeville
- NE Parkhill
- East Colfax
- West Colfax
- Montbello
- Sun Valley
- Valverde
- Villa Park
- Westwood
- College View South
- Lincoln Park
- Barnum
- Athmar Park
- Goldsmith
Priority for funds will also be given to nonprofits that provide services to at-risk populations, including under-resourced or historically marginalized groups such as:
- Communities of color (such as Asian American, Black American, Indigenous, Latino, etc.)
- Older adults
- People experiencing poverty or homelessness
- Immigrants and refugees
- People living with disabilities
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ)
- Veterans
Applicant Eligibility
Nonprofit agencies that are incorporated as a 501(c)3 and registered with the State of Colorado are eligible to apply. This includes those agencies with a fiscal sponsor incorporated as a 501(c)3 and registered in the State of Colorado. Nonprofits must be located in the City and County of Denver or within 1 mile of the city/county border and serve Denver residents with awarded funds.
How can Food System Resiliency Grant funds be used?
NOTE: Funds cannot be used for food. Allowable program costs include but are not limited to:
- Facility infrastructure upgrades, such as plumbing, electrical, or renovations to improve the efficiency of operations, warehousing, and food storage, loading or packaging equipment, software, and other food equipment or materials.
- Storage, handling, processing, preparation, packaging, transportation, and distribution of food; supplies; program operating expenses
- Equipment and capital infrastructure costs
- Value chain management improvements
- Transportation or loading improvements such as purchasing or leasing trucks, or other vehicles, or pallet jacks, forklifts, carts, conveyer belts etc.
- Labor/staffing/personnel; program evaluation; program outreach and community engagement
- Federal Benefit enrollment assistance and marketing costs
- Sub-awards or sub-grants (including contracts to hire experts in an area related to the project, including evaluation and quality improvement through surveys, focus groups, etc.)
- Technical assistance, capacity building, mentorship; professional development and training
- Operating costs, providing additional staffing support, reasonable transportation costs, and expenses for supplies and materials with appropriate justification.