Minnesota farmers and communities throughout the state are benefitting from a new program aimed at local and regional food systems. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded 33 organizations, local units of government, and tribal nations $3.53 million in grants through the Minnesota Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program. The program provides funding for projects that buy local food primarily from socially disadvantaged farmers and distribute that food at no cost to underserved communities.
The MDA is also accepting applications for a second round of LFPA Program grants. Applications will be accepted through May 20, 2024. Applicants may request between $20,000 and $125,000, and the MDA anticipates awarding roughly $3.1 million in this second round. The application and more information can be found on the MDA website at www.mda.state.mn.us/lfpa.
Interested parties can attend one of two virtual information sessions to learn more about the LFPA Program. 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.
In the first round of grants, the MDA received 50 proposals requesting approximately $5.9 million. The grant recipients are:
| Grant Recipient | City |
|---|---|
| Audubon Neighborhood Association | Minneapolis |
| Church of the Incarnation | Minneapolis |
| City of Richfield | Richfield |
| Community Action Center | Northfield |
| Community Action Duluth | Duluth |
| Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio Inc | Saint Paul |
| Grand Rapids Farmers’ Market | Grand Rapids |
| HAVEN, Int'l | Saint Paul |
| Hennepin County | Minneapolis |
| Hmong American Farmers Association | West Saint Paul |
| Isuroon | Minneapolis |
| Kaleidoscope-Kawm Thiab Siv, LLC | Oakdale |
| Keystone Community Services | Saint Paul |
| North Country Food Alliance | Minneapolis |
| Pillsbury United Communities | Minneapolis |
| Prairie Rose Agriculture Institute for Research, Innovation and Education (PRAIRIE | Moorhead |
| PRISM | Golden Valley |
| Real Food Inc. dba Becker Market | Willmar |
| Red Lake Nation | Red Lake |
| Red Wing Area Farmers’ Market Association, Inc. | Red Wing |
| Red Wing Area Food Shelf | Red Wing |
| Region Nine Development Commission | Mankato |
| Riverwood Healthcare Center | Aitkin |
| Southeast Minnesota Food Rescue and Redistribution | Rochester |
| Sprout MN | Little Falls |
| TC Food Justice | Minneapolis |
| The Good Acre | Falcon Heights |
| The Humanity Alliance | Victoria |
| The Open Door | Eagan |
| The Sanneh Foundation | Saint Paul |
| The Village Agricultural Cooperative | Rochester |
| Virginia Farmers’ Market Hub | Virginia |
| White Earth Nation | White Earth |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service awarded the MDA $8,141,877 million in LFPA funding. The LFPA Program is authorized by the American Rescue Plan to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency.
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Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us
For Minnesota farmers and livestock producers experiencing times of stress due to business and financial challenges, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) offers a reminder of free, confidential tools that are available to help.
“From low commodity prices and extreme weather to continued threats like highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), Minnesota’s farmers and their families face a wide range of unique stressors that can have ripple effects in all areas of life,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “You do not have to navigate times of hardship on your own. I encourage farmers and their families to make use of the MDA’s resources designed to support you."
The Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline is open to anyone who is struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression. Calls are answered 24/7 by trained counselors who can lend a listening ear or connect you with help for business, financial, or legal problems. Call 833-600-2670 or text “FARMSTRESS” to 898211 to get started.
If you or someone you know is dealing with a crisis caused by either a natural disaster or financial problems, contact one of the MDA’s nine Farm Advocates. They know all about agricultural lending practices, mediation, lender negotiation, farm programs, crisis counseling, disaster programs, and to recognize the need for legal and/or social services.
Minnesota also has Ted Matthews and Monica McConkey, experienced, ag-focused mental health providers who offer confidential counseling services at no cost to farm individuals, couples, or families anywhere in the state. Sessions can take place in person, on Zoom, or over the phone, and insurance is not needed. They have helped hundreds of Minnesota farmers and farm family members over the years.
For financial assistance, the Rural Finance Authority (RFA) provides a variety of low-interest loans, including one for disaster relief. The MDA also posts a number of grant opportunities throughout the year, such as the AGRI Livestock Investment Grant, which can help improve, update, and modernize livestock operation infrastructure and equipment.
Specific to dairy farms, Dairy Business Planning Grants cover 50% of your cost to hire a qualified, independent third party to create a business plan for your operation or test for stray voltage. Dairy Profit Teams provide planning and problem-solving services throughout Minnesota.
To learn more about all of the state resources that are available to help in times of stress, visit www.minnesotafarmstress.com, or contact the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline at 833-600-2670 or by texting “FARMSTRESS” to 898211.
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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us
