We had 50 applicants in the first round, so 66% of applicants were awarded. That may be different this time around.
We had 50 applicants in the first round, so 66% of applicants were awarded. That may be different this time around.
An electronic copy of the application is available through the application portal. 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."
The maximum amount that an applicant can request for Round 2 of the program is $125,000. Awarded funds will be available after a contract is final (summer 2024) through Sept 14, 2025.
MN LFPA staff can provide technical assistance with the online application system and use of the budget template. Examples of this are if there’s something that goes wrong with the application form, or if there’s difficulty in downloading or uploading a required document, etc. We can provide that type of assistance any time before 5:00pm on May 20th. Applications can be submitted until 11:59pm on May 20th so we recommend starting on your application ahead of the due date so that you can make sure there you don’t run into any challenges after 5:00pm.
Among the current set of grantees there are some that are focused entirely on the summer months. However, there are number of grantees that have been doing procurement and distribution during the winter and early spring. We saw a number of storage crops being purchased in the fall and that has continued through January/February/March, along items such as honey, maple syrup, wild rice, other grains, and meats. It highly depends on the project.
The 2024 LFPA Connections Directory has contact and background information on people and organizations that have services and interest in working on projects specifically related to LFPA. Fill out the online directory form if you want to be listed in the directory and want others to contact you.
A more general resource not specific to LFPA would be Minnesota Grown. Farmers advertise themselves and share about their business, and it can be a good place to connect with farmer suppliers.
There aren’t food banks currently represented among grantees, though there are food shelves represented. Food distribution is taking place through a fairly wide range of distribution models. Some of that that does involve traditional food shelf distribution, but we have examples of projects distributing through senior housing, housing for individuals recovering from chemical dependencies or mental health challenges, through healthcare networks, and community events. The complete list of grantees and projects is available on our website.
We had 50 applicants in the first round, so 66% of applicants were awarded. That may be different this time around.
You can apply as a farmer, or you can look to partner with other people on an application and you could supply food for that project. The LFPA Connections Database is a resource that could help connect you to people looking for food for their project. You can advertise your foods and services by filling out an online directory form and find potential contacts by viewing the public responses. Your farmers market manager may also be a resource to talk to about this program.
Farmers don’t have to have GAP audits in place to sell into LFPA. There is a question about food safety practices in the application that does ask applicants to indicate food safety considerations in procurement and distribution. But audits are not a requirement.
On the cottage food side of things, a lot of cottage food products aren’t eligible because they are considered fully processed as opposed to minimally or unprocessed. For example, jam and bread fully are processed and therefore not eligible. Cottage food also typically has to be distributed to the end consumer. So selling it to a grantee who is then further distributing it, would be ineligible.
Farmers don’t have to have GAP audits in place to sell into LFPA. There is a question about food safety practices in the application that does ask applicants to indicate food safety considerations in procurement and distribution. But audits are not a requirement.
On the cottage food side of things, a lot of cottage food products aren’t eligible because they are considered fully processed as opposed to minimally or unprocessed. For example, jam and bread fully are processed and therefore not eligible. Cottage food also typically has to be distributed to the end consumer. So selling it to a grantee who is then further distributing it, would be ineligible.
Food storage does not necessarily have to be at a commercial facility, but if you are procuring services from someone who isn’t generally in the business of offering those services, then you need to be prepared to demonstrate how those costs are reasonable, and potentially have done some research on average price points and how that compares.
Food storage does not necessarily have to be at a commercial facility, but if you are procuring services from someone who isn’t generally in the business of offering those services, then you need to be prepared to demonstrate how those costs are reasonable, and potentially have done some research on average price points and how that compares.
You can apply as a farmer, or you can look to partner with other people on an application and you could supply food for that project. The LFPA Connections Database is a resource that could help connect you to people looking for food for their project. You can advertise your foods and services by filling out an online directory form and find potential contacts by viewing the public responses. Your farmers market manager may also be a resource to talk to about this program.
You can apply as a farmer, or you can look to partner with other people on an application and you could supply food for that project. The LFPA Connections Database is a resource that could help connect you to people looking for food for their project. You can advertise your foods and services by filling out an online directory form and find potential contacts by viewing the public responses. Your farmers market manager may also be a resource to talk to about this program.
An applicant’s legal business entity must be located in MN. A farm/organization located in WI would not be eligible to be a lead applicant. An entity that is located in MN could apply and source from a farm in WI, however, as long as the WI purchases are not more than 30% of the project’s total food purchases. At least 70% of a project’s food purchases (by monetary value) must be sourced from within the geographic boundaries of MN.
