Reminder: Two Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance Program Grants Accepting Applications Through November 22

Two Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance (WI-LFPA) Program grants are accepting applications now through 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22, 2023. These two grants, the Direct-to-Farmer Grant and the Community Partners Grant, are funded through a cooperative agreement between the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. To apply, visit wilocalfood.org.
Access the informational webinar here.

Direct-to-Farmer Grant
The Direct-to-Farmer Grant is administered by Marbleseed.

Available for Wisconsin farm businesses to sell their products to the program with contracts ranging from $5,000-$25,000. Contracts between Marbleseed and awarded farmers will include agreements on pricing for pre-season projected products, pre-season payment schedules, product quality, as well as procurement and distribution procedures. The program aims to work with up to 150 farmers with approximately 120 of those farmers representing Black, Indigenous, farmers of color, beginning, and U.S. Veteran farmers. Farmers awarded to supply for the program will also benefit from WI-LFPA educational programming and technical assistance, community building and networking events, working with food system and hunger relief partners, and the opportunity to feed their and other underserved communities across the state. The ideal applicant has some wholesale experience or is interested in expanding their business to reach wholesale markets.

For additional information on the Direct-to-Farmer Grant, email info@marbleseed.org.

Community Partners Grant
The Community Partners Grant is administered by DATCP.

Projects will be awarded through a competitive grant process. Grant awards can range from $30,000 up to $300,000. This is a one-time funding opportunity designed for partnerships to implement projects that purchase Wisconsin grown, raised or minimally processed food, prioritizing sourcing from socially disadvantaged and historically underserved producers and processors, and distribute that local food at no cost to underserved communities in Wisconsin. This competitive grant program complements the Direct-to-Farmer Grant managed by Marbleseed. Farmers can have an existing WI-LFPA contract with Marbleseed and still participate in a WI-LFPA Community Partner Grant Project.

For additional information on the Community Partner grant, email katie.kracht@wisconsin.gov.

About the WI LFPA Program
DATCP has a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service for the WI LFPA Program. The program aims to strengthen local food systems, support Wisconsin farmers, and distribute fresh nutritious foods to underserved communities.

DATCP is collaboratively working with producers, distributors, food security organizations, and tribal partners to provide program development, coordinate transportation and logistics, and procure food from local producers through partnership with Marbleseed, Wisconsin Farmers Union, and the Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative. For more information on the WI LFPA Program, visit wilocalfood.org.

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Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance Program