FEED NJ

Food Equity and Economic Development in New Jersey

Applications for FEED NJ are now closed.

Food Equity and Economic Development in New Jersey (FEED NJ) is a $30 million pilot program awarding grants between $50,000 and $500,000 for innovative projects that strengthen food access and food security in New Jersey’s most acute Food Desert Communities (FDCs).

AMOUNT

$30 million in total funding is available

Applicants may request a grant amount from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $500,000

Grant funds may cover up to 100 percent of the proposed project costs

BENEFITS

Improve New Jersey residents’ ability to access fresh, affordable, healthy food

Expand operational and employment capacities for local businesses and nonprofits enabling food access and food security

ELIGIBILITY

Projects must primarily serve residents of one or more of the 14 Primary Focus FDCs

Applicants must be for-profit or nonprofit entities that have been in existence for at least two years at the time of application

Entities demonstrating a track record of serving FDC residents and providing programming/services related to food access and/or food security will earn higher scores

FEED NJ aims to catalyze innovative, sustainable, and scalable food security and food access initiatives with high potential to maximize community-level impact.

The program will make $30 million available for grants to projects — proposed by applicants on the frontlines of food access work — that strengthen food security in New Jersey’s most acute Food Desert Communities, while accounting for the unique context and circumstances of each FDC.

Geographic Eligibility

FEED NJ focuses on 14 of New Jersey’s top 15 FDCs, excluding Atlantic City/Ventnor (which was the sole focus of the Atlantic City Food Security Grants Pilot Program). To target resources to the most acute FDCs in New Jersey, this program will only support projects that propose to primarily serve residents of one or more of the 14 Primary Focus FDCs. These FDCs are:

North, Central and South Camden/Woodlynne
Newark South
Newark West
Camden East/Pennsauken
Trenton West
Newark North and Central
Newark East
Salem City
Passaic City
Trenton East
Bridgeton/Fairfield Twp/Lawrence Twp
Paterson South
New Brunswick City
Paterson North

Because FDCs are designated at the block-group level, the boundaries of an FDC generally do not include an entire municipality. The boundaries of the 14 Primary Focus FDCs can be seen in this interactive map available on NJEDA’s website.

Applicants may also elect to serve additional NJEDA-designated FDCs, provided the primary focus remains on at least one of these 14 .

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following basic eligibility criteria to proceed to further scoring and evaluation:

Applicant is a for-profit or nonprofit entity that has been in existence for at least two years at the time of application
Applicant is in good standing with the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Applicant is registered to do business in New Jersey and in substantial good standing with the NJ Division of Taxation, as evidenced by a current Tax Clearance Certificate
For projects involving construction, applicant must provide evidence of site control or a path to site control at the time of application

Applicants are limited to one application per EIN. Municipalities and other government entities are not eligible to apply for this grant opportunity.

Applicants may propose collaborating with other entities. If any other entity will incur expenses as part of the proposed project, those expenses and that entity’s role must be described in the application.

Grant funds will be awarded only to applicants that indicate that they will use the grant funds for projects to improve food access and/or food security that primarily serve residents in one or more of the 14 Primary Focus FDCs. Proposed projects may be new initiatives, an expansion of existing services, or both. Applicants can propose to complete their projects within either 12 or 24 months.

Acquisition of land or buildings, ground-up construction, fines incurred because of code or zoning violations, and major renovations (e.g. construction of an additional floor or an addition to the building footprint) are not eligible costs.

All other costs that are incurred after the date of grant agreement execution are eligible, subject to the Authority’s approval of the project budget and supporting documentation. For example, costs can include minor renovation, equipment, installation, salaries and fringe, and rent.

As required by law, construction, including use of trades in construction related to installation of equipment, will be subject to state affirmative action requirements for contractors, and such work with a cost of $2,000 or more will be subject to New Jersey prevailing wage requirements. Additionally, grantees must utilize contractors registered as a New Jersey Public Works Contractor with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development for work subject to prevailing wage.

Applicants may request a grant amount from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $500,000. Grant funds may cover up to 100% of the proposed project costs. If grant funds from EDA are not requested to cover 100% of the proposed project costs, additional funding sources (both potential and secured) must be described in the budget narrative submitted with the application.

Funding Disbursements

Funds will be disbursed according to the following schedule:

30% of the grant will be disbursed upon execution of a grant agreement between NJEDA and the selected applicant;
Once the applicant’s quarterly expenditure reports demonstrate that the initial disbursement has been spent on eligible costs, further expenditures on eligible costs will be reimbursed on a quarterly basis, up to a maximum of 50% of the grant amount, upon the Authority’s review and approval of the applicant’s quarterly expenditure reports; and
Up to 20% of the grant amount will be disbursed upon the Authority’s review and approval of the applicant’s final progress and expenditure reports.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Food Desert Communities (FDCs)

The NJEDA has created a mapping tool to assist potential applicants with locating NJEDA-designated Food Desert Communities (FDCs) that are eligible for FEED NJ.

Use the mapping tool on the left to view FEED NJ’s 14 Primary Focus FDCs. Click the checkbox marked “FEED NJ – Food Desert Communities.” Projects must primarily serve residents of one of more of these 14 FDCs.

Use the mapping tool on the right to view all 50 NJEDA-designated FDCs. Applicants may elect to serve additional FDCs, provided the primary focus remains on at least one of the 14.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FEED NJ PRIMARY FOCUS FDCS

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL FDCS

Tax Clearance Certificate

Click here for instructions on how to obtain a Tax Clearance Certificate for private entities.

board memo Program Specifications frequently asked questions List of Primary Focus FDCs

Application Preparation Documents

Application Document Checklist

Construction Documents

Contractor Eligibility Verification Form

Professional Services Eligibility Verification Form

Landlord Certification Form

Examples of Potential Projects Scoring Criteria

Informational Webinar

Watch

Slide Deck

CONTACT US

For more information or to ask a specific question please send an email to foodsecuritygrants@njeda.gov and a team member will reach out to you.

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