Funding-Limited Submission - U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) – Hunger-free Communities, July 15, 2010

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has $5 million available in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 for a Hunger-Free Communities grant competition.

The purpose of this grant is to establish hunger-free communities and learn more about effective strategies to reduce hunger in the United States. There are two models of grants: planning and assessment grants and implementation grants. A community may only apply for one model of grant as part of this grant solicitation; however, those communities receiving a planning and assessment grant may apply for an implementation grant in a future year if additional funds are made available to continue this program.

There is $1 million set aside for grants in Model 1: Planning and Assessment Grants. These grants will be awarded up to $100,000 per grantee. If all of the $1 million is not used, the unused funds from Model 1 will be moved to funding for Model 2. Applicants in Model 1 will assess the hunger and food insecurity in their community and create a plan to become hunger-free.

The remaining $4 million is set aside for grants in Model 2: Implementation Grants. Organizations applying for Model 2 grants must have already conducted an assessment and developed a plan to end hunger in their community as a condition of application. A total award pool of approximately $4 million will be awarded with maximum awards varying by the population of the community: up to $2 million for cities with a population greater than two million, up to $1 million for metropolitan areas with a population greater than 50,000 but less than two million, and up to $1 million for areas with less than 50,000 residents.

Grant applications must include at least one of the 14 goals of the Hunger-Free Communities Initiative:

1. Having a community-based emergency food delivery network that coordinates the services of programs such as food pantries, food banks, and congregate meals facilities.

2. Assessing food insecurity problems and evaluating existing services in the community to determine necessary strategies for responding to unmet needs.

3. Establishing a group of individuals, including low-income participants, to develop and to implement policies and programs to combat food insecurity, to monitor responsiveness of existing services, and to address underlying causes and factors related to hunger.

4. Participating in federally assisted nutrition programs that should be easily accessible to targeted populations, such as the Federal programs that provide school breakfast, school lunch, summer food, child care food, and food for homeless and older individuals.

5. Effectively integrating public and private resources, including local businesses, to alleviate food insecurity.

6. Having an education program about food needs of the community and the need for increased local citizen participation in activities to alleviate food insecurity.

7. Having available information and referral services for accessing both public and private programs and services.

8. Having initiatives for alleviating food shopping constraints through the development of creative food resources such as community gardens, buying clubs, food cooperatives, community-owned and operated grocery stores, and farmers' markets.

9. Carrying out activities to identify and target food services to high-risk populations.

10. Having adequate transport and distribution of food from all resources.

11. Coordinating food services with park and recreation programs and other community-based outlets to which residents of the area would have easy access.

12. Improving public transportation, human service agencies, and food resources.

13. Having nutrition education programs for low-income citizens to enhance good food-purchasing and food-preparation skills and to heighten awareness of the connection between diet and health.

14. Having a program for collecting and distributing nutritious food, either agricultural commodities in farmers' fields or foods that have already been prepared, that would otherwise be wasted.

The Federal share of the cost of the activities funded by these grants shall not exceed 80 percent. The Grantee is responsible for the remaining 20 percent. Applicants should certify that all necessary approvals for the commitment of resources have been obtained, including those used for the 20 percent cost share.

Each applicant may only apply for one model of grant in a given community, although the same applicant can apply for a different model grant in a different community. The applicant must identify which model they are applying for in their cover letter. Failing to include this information in the cover letter will disqualify an application.

The complete announcement can be accessed at:  http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/outreach/documents/hfc_rfa.pdf

Because the USDA allows each applicant to apply for one model of grant in a given community, UK has established an internal selection process. Individuals interested in submitting to this program are to send the following material electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Thursday, July 15, 2010:

1. Names and departments of the Project Director, project team, and any non-UK team members and/or collaborators;

2. Identify the specific model and the specific community,

3. Provide a 3 page description of the project’s goals, objectives, and proposed activities,

4. Indicate the source(s) and commitment for the 20% cost share. Because of on-going commitments, the VPR office will be unable to provide any funds.

A committee will be appointed to review the information and make recommendations as to the University’s submissions in time for the September 1, 2010 deadline. 

Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice Preside