Introduction – LFPP Grant 2023
ShrinkThatFootPrint has consistently promoted local and regional food sourcing to reduce our carbon footprint associated with food transport emissions by decreasing the need for long-distance transportation of food products. The Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) grant is an opportunity for domestic entities to develop, coordinate, and expand local and regional food business enterprises.
By encouraging the development of local food systems, The LFFP grant helps to reduce the amount of fuel used to transport food and thus reduce the associated emissions. This also helps to support local and regional economies by providing opportunities for businesses to engage in local and regional food production.
LFFP Has Broad Eligibility – Read Carefully To See If You Are Eligible
The Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) grant is an opportunity to support local and regional food business enterprises that engage in indirect producer to consumer marketing and increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products.
Eligible applicants include agricultural businesses and cooperatives, producer networks and associations, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) networks and associations, food councils, local governments, nonprofit and public benefit corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers’ market authorities, and tribal governments.
Applicants can apply for Planning, Implementation, Farm to Institution, and Turnkey Marketing and Promotion project types.
If you are a farmer you will have access to other sustainability-related grants. The CRP program will assist farmers to repurpose their non-productive land to implement approved conservation practices.
Location Eligibility
To apply for the LFPP grant, applicants must be domestic entities located within the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or Tribal Governments.
Matching Funds
This is an important condition: applicants must also provide matching funds from non-Federal sources in the form of cash and/or in-kind contributions in an amount equal to 25 percent of the total Federal portion of the grant.
Appropriate Projects For The LFPP Grant
Appropriate projects for this grant include developing, coordinating, and expanding local and regional food business enterprises such as shared-use kitchens, food hubs, and food incubators; establishing and expanding food businesses; value chain coordination, business plan development, strategy, and food safety certification; and marketing activities like market identification and analysis, marketing plan development, marketing and promotion design and purchases, and evaluation.
Key Information And Steps
Read the application information: go here to get the most up-to-date information on the application info
Go to the Grants.gov website: this URL is where you submit the application: https://www.grants.gov/
When to apply: From Tuesday, February 14, 2023, until Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
How to apply: first you need to find the grant. Applicants can apply for the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) grant through Grants.gov using the correct Assistance listing (formerly Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 10.175 and Funding Opportunity Number “USDA-AMS-TM-LFPP-G-23-0011”.
Process: Applicants should register in Grants.gov and submit applications early, at least two weeks before the application deadline, to ensure all certifications are met. They should make sure they have the most recent copy of Adobe Reader installed on their computer and that it is compatible with Grants.gov software.
Additionally, applicants should limit their application file size/file name characters to 50 or less, avoid special characters in file names, click the “Add Attachments” button when uploading attachments, not password-protect their documents, and make sure all tracked-changes are “accepted”. Applicants should also input the correct UEI (formerly DUNS) number on the SF-424 form cover page.
What To Expect After Submitting An Application
Applicants should expect to receive up to $750,000 depending on the project type and cost share requirements. They can use the funds for activities such as conducting feasibility studies, hiring training and technical assistance experts, and developing business plans, establishing and expanding food businesses, value chain coordination, business plan development, strategy, and food safety certification, and marketing activities like market identification and analysis, marketing plan development, marketing and promotion design and purchases, and evaluation.
For questions, applicants can refer to the program’s FAQs or contact FMLFPPGrants@usda.gov.
Tips When Apply To The LFPP Grant
When applying for the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) grant, here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. Read the application carefully and ensure that you meet all of the eligibility criteria.
2. Make sure to provide a 25% match for the total Federal portion of the grant.
3. Include goals and activities related to reducing and stabilizing the levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere or adapting to the already occurring climate change in your project’s design and implementation.
4. Engage and involve beneficiaries when developing projects and applications, such as smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, and/or underserved communities.
5. Submit your application before the deadline (May 2, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time).
6. Read the entire Request for Applications (RFA) prior to submitting the application.
7. Include all required documents in the application package: SF-424, SF-424A, Project Abstract Summary, Project Narrative Form OR Turnkey Project Narrative Form, Signed Letters Verifying Matching Funds, Signed Letters of Commitment from Partner and Collaborator Organizations.
8. Ensure the Executive Summary supports project goals and objectives and is no more than 250 words.
9. Ensure the proposal does not exceed the page limit specified in Section 5.2.4 or 5.2.5.
10. Ensure the proposal excludes unallowable costs and activities per Section 4.4.
11. When applicable, include Signed Letter(s) Stating Evidence of Critical Resources and Infrastructure and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.
12. Submit written stakeholder comments to AMSGrants@usda.gov within six months of the publication date of the RFA.
A stakeholder is any individual or group that has a vested interest in the success or failure of an organization, project, or policy. Stakeholders can include customers, employees, investors, suppliers, government agencies, community members, and other interested parties.
13. Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).
14. Be registered in SAM.gov, the Government’s primary registrant database.
15. Provide your UEI number and TIN on your application and maintain an active SAM registration with current information throughout the application review period and, if you are awarded a grant, during the project period.
16. Ensure you have the most recent copy of Adobe Reader installed and that it is compatible with Grants.gov software.
17. Limit Application File Size/ File Name Characters (50 or less).
18. Avoid Special Characters in File Names ($, %, &, *, Spanish “ñ”, etc.).
19. When uploading attachments, click the “Add Attachments” button (do NOT use the “paperclip” icon in Adobe Reader).
20. Do not password-protect your documents and make sure all tracked-changes are “accepted”.
21. Input the correct UEI (formerly DUNS) number on the SF.
Table Shows Timing Of Grant Process
Conclusions – Local Food Promotion Program
The Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) grant is a great opportunity for eligible domestic entities to develop, coordinate, and expand local and regional food business enterprises and increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products.
With the potential to receive up to $750,000 for activities related to food production, the LFPP grant could be a great source of funding for domestic entities to reduce their carbon footprint associated with food transport emissions. Those interested in applying for the LFPP grant should follow the instructions detailed in this article and register in Grants.gov early to ensure all certifications are met.
