Food Systems Grants

A food desert as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is an area without ready access to fresh, healthy and affordable food. Of the 55 food deserts identified in Maricopa County, there are 43 in Phoenix, that encompass nearly half the Phoenix population. The people most vulnerable in Phoenix often have limited time to cook, live far distances from grocers, and are on a tight budget. In today’s urban fast-food culture, food insecurity often means a lack of nutritious food. Despite our agricultural capacity and national leadership in food production, our food system is not working for many people in Phoenix, especially low-income, ethnic minorities, seniors, and children.

This grant intends to support projects at the community-level that foster a just, equitable, and resilient local food system and improve food access by helping Phoenix residents to grow, access, cook, share, and eat healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant food.

Eligible entities and activities:

• Organizations that have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
• Community groups that have a *fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
• Locally owned businesses, social enterprises, and/or cooperative enterprises with less than 50 employees
• Educational Institutions (community colleges, universities, public and/or charter schools)
• Entities must be operating within the City of Phoenix boundaries to be eligible for funding through the Food Systems Grant.
• Project activities must take place within the City of Phoenix boundaries.
• Project activities must be accessible and benefit people who live, learn, and work in Phoenix.
• Project activities must focus on contributing to a just, equitable, and resilient local food system.

Ineligible entities and activities:

• Entities or individuals awarded an OEP grant within the last five years (2022 - 2026).
• Prior OEP grant awardees submitting duplicate or substantially similar projects previously funded by an OEP grant program.
• Entities or individuals not meeting eligibility criteria outlined in this document (e.g., geographic restrictions, organizational type).
• Organizations or individuals with outstanding reports, unresolved compliance issues, or unpaid obligations from prior OEP grants or to the City of Phoenix.
• Projects primarily benefiting private interests rather than the broader community.
• Applicants seeking retroactive funding for expenses incurred before the award date.
• Projects that do not align with the program’s stated goals and objectives.

 

• Identifies a specific demonstrated need in the local food system, especially in historically underserved or marginalized areas.
• Advances justice, equity, and access to healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant food within the local food system.
• Enhances food and nutrition security and promotes community health.
• Increases understanding of the local food system, food literacy, and community food resources.
• Advances economic opportunities in the food system for urban growers, new and existing food businesses, and others to sell their food locally and creates opportunity for residents to affordably and easily acquire healthy food.
• Improves access to healthy food (farmer’s markets, CSAs, healthy food retailers, neighborhood produce stands, mobile markets and food delivery projects) for the most vulnerable.
• Adopts new and/or expands existing sustainable practices to produce, process, cook, transport, sell food, and/or prevent food loss and waste to create a strong community food network.

Funding and Duration:

• Total available Grant funding for 2025 is $100,000.
• The maximum Grant request is $20,000. The minimum Grant request is $5,000.
• The time period for the grant is maximum 12 months.
• Funds will be paid on a monthly reimbursement basis. The City may consider one advance payment per grantee of no more than 20 percent of the total grant request, based on demonstrated need.
• All funds awarded through this grant opportunity must be expended within 12 months. Any funds that are not spent at expiration of the Agreement, must be returned to the City.

Allowable Expenses:

• The majority of the budget costs should go toward direct services to Phoenix residents.
• All budget costs need to be clearly tied to project activities and goals.
• Liability insurance is required for the duration of the grant period, costs associated may be included in the budget.

Non-allowable expenses

• Expenses made before the organization is under contract
• Lodging or hotel expenses
• Organization’s overhead/indirect costs unrelated to the Food Systems Grant
• Projects not easily accessible by the public
• Purchase of land or buildings
• Purchase of a vehicle
• Capital project or physical improvements on a private residence

Advance Payment

• The City may consider one advance payment per grantee of no more than 20 percent of the total grant request, based on demonstrated need. The following specific criteria must be met to receive the advance:
• The grantee must provide written justification demonstrating the need for an advance payment and state how the advance will be spent.
• The advanced amount must be expended within 60 days.
• The grantee is required to submit documentation verifying the expenditure, along with supporting materials such as photos (e.g., if funds were used for supplies or equipment).
• Once the documentation is approved, the project will transition to a monthly reimbursement process for subsequent expenses.
• If the advance is not fully spent within 60 days and/or the required documentation is not provided, the grant will be terminated, and the grantee must repay the full amount of the advance payment.