2024 Fresh Food Access Fund Application

DEADLINE: Monday, May 27, 2024 at 4 pm

Applications must be completed electronically though this Formsite application and must include all required supplemental materials. Applications that arrive after 4 pm Monday, May 27, 2024 will not be evaluated.

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Goals

The Milwaukee Fresh Food Access Fund (FFAF) aims to financially support activities that increase the access of underserved communities to healthy food choices, partner with community organizations, businesses, and other government entities with a fresh food component, and address the issues identified in the Milwaukee Fresh Food Access Report.

Eligible projects

The FFAF provides 1:1 matching grants to projects that advance one or more of the following strategies:

Attract grocery stores and mobile market stops to underserved neighborhoods
Develop other retail outlets in underserved neighborhoods as sources of fresh foods
Increase the stock of fresh foods in corner stores
Increase the amount of locally grown food that is available to Milwaukee consumers
Meet the fresh food needs of populations with special dietary requirements
Improve transportation to grocery stores and farmer’s markets for individuals who live in underserved areas

Eligible uses of Fresh Food Access Fund grants

FFAF grants may only be used for capital expenditures related to the establishment, expansion, or improvement of a food-related business that increases access to fresh, healthy food for underserved residents. For example, the following could be considered eligible uses:

Purchase of equipment to store and/or prepare healthy food
Purchase of furniture, fixtures, and start-up inventory for a healthy food business
Build-out of space to house or expand a food retail or production operation
Purchase of vehicles to transport healthy food
Improvements to the exterior and signage of a fresh food retail operation
Construction or equipment activities related to community gardens
Soft costs that are specifically necessary to carry out another eligible use of funds

Eligible applicants

Applications will be accepted from not-for-profit organizations with current 501(c)3 registration with the

US Internal Revenue Service, and for-profit businesses. Other types of entities may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Previous FFAF awardees with open FFAF grant awards are eligible to apply for funding through this application process. If awarded as a part of this process, previous FFAF awardees will not be able to request reimbursement until all previously-awarded projects are either completed or terminated.

Process

Questions and requests for clarification must be directed to FFAFgrant@milwaukee.gov. All questions must be received in writing no later than 4pm on May 10, 2024. Unless otherwise stated, responses to all questions and any further information will be posted by 4pm on May 15, 2024 to www.milwaukee.gov/ffaf.

FFAF applications will be evaluated by a review panel that includes staff from the City of Milwaukee as well as representatives of outside organizations with appropriate subject matter knowledge. Decisions of the review panel are final.

Applicants are responsible for keeping informed of the information, clarification, and answers to
questions as they are posted. All such clarifications, updates, and revisions will be incorporated into the rules of the program as they may be posted to www.milwaukee.gov/ffaf.

Program Guidelines

More information about the FFAF Grant funding opportunity, as well as a copy of the full program guidelines, can be found on the Department of City Development's webpage located here: https://city.milwaukee.gov/FFAF

Applicant certification

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and accept the guidelines of the Fresh Food Access Fund and the requirements of the application process. I understand that there is no guarantee that this application will be awarded a grant, and that any award of grant funds would be provided to me in writing on letterhead from the City of Milwaukee.

*

I have read and understand the eligibility requirements

Applicant Information

Applicant (business or organization name) *

Form of organization (e.g. LLC, 501(c)(3) etc.) *

Applicant Address:

Street Address *

Address Line 2

City *

State *

Zip Code *

Application contact person name *

Application contact person title *

Contact phone number *

Contact email address *

Address of Proposed Project:

Street Address *

Address Line 2

City *

State *

Zip Code *

Grant amount requested *

Project Description

Describe the project. Tell us what you plan to do, the parties that will be involved in implementing the project, the ways in which this project connects to other work of your organization and your organization’s mission, the people and neighborhoods that will benefit, and any other details that will help the evaluation committee determine whether the project will receive an FFAF award. *

How does this project advance one or more of the strategies the Fresh Food Access Fund is designed to support? *

Describe the anticipated impact of the project. How will you track and measure impact? *

Describe the neighborhood surrounding the proposed project location and/or the intended beneficiaries of the project. Does the project serve an area of limited food access? If “yes,” provide information that documents the need for improved fresh food access at that location. *

Describe your organization’s experience in addressing issues relating to food insecurity and food access. If your project involves other partners, include a description of your partners’ experience with these issues. *

Provide the timetable for implementation of the project. *

Project Evaluation

Instructions: Please select a minimum of 1 type of qualitative measurement and 2 types of quantitative measurements that you will collect to evaluate your project. If the indicators you intend to collect are not listed, please select other and explain the measures or indicators that you will collect. Note that you may also expand on your selections in question #3 above - “Describe the anticipated impact of the project. How will you track and measure impact?”

Qualitative Measurements (select at least 1 and up to 6) *

Participant Experience (Focus group, Interview, Feedback Survey)

Participant Demographics (Gender, Employment Status, Family Makeup, Race / Ethnicity)

Community Demographics (Gender, Employment Status, Family Makeup, Race / Ethnicity)

Pre/Post Assessment (Likes and dislikes, More likely / less likely to, Knowledge / skill attainment)

Observation

Other Other

Quantitative Measurements (select at least 2 and up to 13) *

Project Budget

FFAF will provide assistance only to capital projects. The FFAF will provide a maximum of 50% of the total cost of a project as a 1:1 matching grant. See the chart below for information about minimum and maximum grant. Awards of less than $5,000 may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Grant type

Minimum grant

Maximum grant

Capital Grant

$5,000

Project budget must be at least $10,000 to qualify.

$25,000

Project budget must be at least $50,000 to qualify.

Use the expenditure plan form below to list planned project expenditures. All applicants also must complete the “project financing plan” form to indicate how the entire project will be fully funded. Projects must at least include a plan for accessing all of the required funding necessary to complete the project.

CAPITAL PROJECT EXPENDITURE PLAN

	Expense description	Amounts ($)	Supplier/Vendor (if known)
Space build-out	Expense description	Amounts ($)	Supplier/Vendor (if known)
Equipment	Expense description	Amounts ($)	Supplier/Vendor (if known)
Exterior improvements	Expense description	Amounts ($)	Supplier/Vendor (if known)
Furniture and fixtures	Expense description	Amounts ($)	Supplier/Vendor (if known)
Vehicles	Expense description	Amounts ($)	Supplier/Vendor (if known)
Inventory	Expense description	Amounts ($)	Supplier/Vendor (if known)
Other	Expense description	Amounts ($)	Supplier/Vendor (if known)
Other	Expense description	Amounts ($)	Supplier/Vendor (if known)

Total project cost ($)

PROJECT FINANCING PLAN

All applicants must complete this form. Insert the amount you are requesting through this application on the “FFAF grant" line. All projects must include at least a plan for obtaining all of the funding necessary to complete the project.

*

	Amounts ($)	Source	Status of Funding Source (secured, applied for, etc.)
Applicant's resources	Amounts ($)	Source	Status of Funding Source (secured, applied for, etc.)
Bank loan or line of credit	Amounts ($)	Source	Status of Funding Source (secured, applied for, etc.)
FFAF grant	Amounts ($)	Source	Status of Funding Source (secured, applied for, etc.)
Other grants	Amounts ($)	Source	Status of Funding Source (secured, applied for, etc.)
Other	Amounts ($)	Source	Status of Funding Source (secured, applied for, etc.)

Please describe any funding sources listed under "Other" above

For any funding sources that have not been secured, please provide a detailed timeline on when you expect to be able to secure the funding

Please upload proof of financing for any funding sources listed as "secured". Responses could include redacted bank statements, grant or loan award letters, or other promises of funding awards. Please include all funding award documentation in one pdf file.

Please describe how you intend to respond to unexpected cost increases or loss of anticipated funding sources. For example, what other funding sources would you consider pursuing? How could costs be reduced on the project? *

Total project funding sources (must equal costs listed above) *

Project Team

Please list the key individuals involved in the project, as well as their role on the development team. Example: Jane Doe - Executive Director *

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Please describe past projects or prior experience from the development team that contributes to the overall feasibility of the project. *

Supplemental Materials

Completed W-9 Form: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf *

Submit an updated copy of the applicant's articles of incorporation OR
Non-profit organizations submit a copy of the applicant's IRS letter of determination *

Written consent from property owner giving permission to conduct improvements (if applicable)

If available, please provide documentation substantiating the expected costs of the project (i.e. equipment costs, contractor estimates/quotes, etc.)

If available, additional information that documents the financial feasibility of the project, such as a letter of intent from a bank to lend funds or a letter of intent from a foundation to provide a grant

Please submit any community or stakeholder letters of support for the project

If your application is approved for an FFAF grant, the applicant will be required to sign a grant contract, and provide additional information such as bids from contractors, work specifications, and vendor quote for the purchase of equipment, among other information.