The MDA is now accepting applications for a second round of the Minnesota Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program. LFPA funds projects that:
- Buy local food, primarily from socially disadvantaged farmers
- Distribute food at no cost to underserved communities throughout the state
Applicant Eligibility
Individuals (including farmers), non-profit organizations, for-profit businesses, tribal nations, government entities, agricultural cooperatives, economic development organizations, educational institutions, and representatives of a community collaboration are eligible to apply.
Applicants are required to engage with others in the planning of their project. Those in search of others to work with can advertise their interest via an online directory form and find potential contacts by viewing the public responses.
Project Eligibility
We anticipate that applications will propose a wide range of models for local food procurement and distribution. Requirements include:
- Sourcing at least 70% of food from within the geographic boundaries of Minnesota
- Sourcing at least 70% of food from socially disadvantaged and emerging farmers
- Distributing food to communities, at least 75% of which must be underserved, at no cost
Amount Available
Approximately $3.1 million is available. The maximum award is $125,000 and the minimum is $20,000.
Informational Sessions
Interested parties can attend one of two virtual information sessions to learn more about the 2024 MN LFPA Request for Proposals. The sessions will be held at the following times:
- May 1, 2024, from 5 – 6 p.m. Register for this event.
- May 2, 2024, from 12 – 1 p.m. Register for this event.
A recording will be posted to the website. Questions asked will be added to the list of grant Questions and Answers.
Applying
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Monday, May 20, 2024.
Applications are preferred to be submitted online.
- If you are a new user, you will need to create an account. View instructions on creating an account.
- Once you are logged in, select "MN Local Food Purchase Assistance Program 2024."
Before you apply, read the MN Local Food Purchase Assistance Program 2024 Request for Proposals (PDF) for eligibility, requirements, and priorities.
Contact us if you need this information in an alternative format.
Funding for the MN LFPA program was made possible by a grant/cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.
