New York State Department of Agriculture Announces Over $1.2 Million Available for Community Growing and Food Distribution Programs Through Two Grant Programs

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) and Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) today announced $1.2 million is available as part of New York State’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program's Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention (SNAP-Ed) program. Funding is available through the SNAP-Ed Food Box and Community Growers Grants programs, which each provide funding to eligible groups to further expand access to fresh, affordable foods in underserved communities across New York State and support New York’s agricultural industry.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Every New Yorker deserves to eat fresh, healthy food that nourishes their body and helps them feel their best, and one of the top ways we can do that is by expanding the availability of affordable, New York grown food in our communities, These two funding opportunities announced today will help get more healthy, local foods to our underserved communities while supporting New York farmers and our agricultural economy. I’m grateful for our partnership with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and their help getting this terrific program off the ground.”

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Acting Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, “SNAP is our greatest tool to fight food insecurity and more than 2.8 million New Yorkers receive assistance through the program each month. These funding opportunities are available to help support grassroots, community-based efforts to expand access to affordable, nutritious, locally grown food in underserved communities, while benefitting farmers. These programs have the potential to improve the health and well-being of our fellow New Yorkers, our farmers, and our communities.”

In 2022, AGM awarded nearly $1.1 million to 32 organizations across New York State through the SNAP-Ed Food Box and Community Growers Grant Programs. The awarded projects have worked to combat food insecurity in under-resourced areas, helped provide nutrition education in food insecure communities, and developed an interest and skillset to grow and cook healthy, locally produced food.

Food Box Grant Program

The SNAP-Ed Food Box Grant program expands access to nutritious and locally grown produce to communities at reduced rates, while working to connect farmers with new markets and drive growth in New York’s agricultural industry. This statewide grant program encourages participants to make local produce available and accessible to SNAP-eligible/food insecure communities while simultaneously providing nutrition education.

Administered by AGM in partnership with OTDA, the program is federally funded and available to not-for-profits and government entities. Proposals for projects up to $10,000 are eligible. Qualifying project proposals will be reviewed and approved in the order of receipt and until funds are exhausted. Project proposals are due by 4:00 pm on December 15, 2023. Applications for funding must be submitted by email to kendall.hough@agriculture.ny.gov  with the Subject: 2023 SNAP-Ed Food Box Grant Program. Learn more about the program and apply at https://agriculture.ny.gov/rfa-0309-snap-ed-food-box-grant-program.

Community Growers Grant Program

The SNAP-Ed Community Growers Grant program supports urban farming and nutrition education. The program provides direct assistance to community-led gardens and not-for-profit farms that work to combat food insecurity in under-resourced areas and help food insecure communities develop an interest and skillset to grow and cook healthy, locally produced food. This initiative recently expanded to serve nutritionally underserved communities across all of New York State.

Administered by AGM in partnership with OTDA, the program is federally funded and available to not-for-profits and government entities. Proposals for projects up to $50,000 are eligible. Awards will be made to eligible, qualifying projects in order of receipt and until funding is exhausted. Applications for funding must be submitted via the Grants Gateway to be considered for funding. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be accepted. Project proposals are due at 4:00 pm on December 15, 2023. Learn more about the program and apply at https://agriculture.ny.gov/rfa-0308-snap-ed-community-growers-grant-program.

An informational webinar discussing both programs will be held on Monday, November 6^th from 12pm-1pm. Access the webinar at: https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/j.php?MTID=m5dd895d7f4e3df8541cfe6c23692f8b3

Community-led growing spaces are collaborative projects on shared open space that produce healthy and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables for local community consumption. Gardens offer physical and mental health benefits by providing opportunities to eat healthy fresh fruits and vegetables; engage in physical activity, skill building, and creating green space; beautify vacant lots and revitalize neighborhoods; and create safe spaces and improve social well-being by strengthening local connections. 

Most importantly, community growing spaces and nutrition education programs help improve residents’ access to fresh, healthy food and combat food insecurity and hunger. The purpose of these nutrition education activities is to increase fruit and vegetable consumption of low-income SNAP eligible consumers and to reduce their incidence of chronic disease.