COMMUNITY FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAM

Funding Programs that Coordinate Food Assistance Resources, Assist Low-Income Communities with Child Nutrition Programs, and Develop Innovative Approaches to Meet the Nutrition Needs of Low-Income People.

The Community Food and Nutrition program provides funding for programs that:

1. coordinate existing private and public food assistance resources to better serve low-income communities;
2. help low-income communities identify potential sponsors of child nutrition programs, and initiate new programs in underserved or unserved areas; and
3. develop innovative approaches to meet the nutrition needs of low-income people.

Sixty percent of CFN funding is allotted for grants to eligible agencies for Statewide programs in each State. Forty percent of the funds are distributed on a competitive basis to States and public and private nonprofit organizations.

Although no information is available on specific projects that are funded within the States, farmers' markets meet the above purposes of this program by coordinating food assistance resources, including both the WIC and Seniors’ Farmers Market Nutrition Programs, and assisting communities meet the nutrition needs of low-income people. Organizations promoting farmers' markets could be excellent candidates to receive grants through their States under this program.

Funding
In FY 2002, States received a total of $4,125,600. For a list of what your state received go to the website below.

To find out more about this program, including information on applying for a grant go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/