The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is pleased to announce funding for projects that will increase food donation through assistance to local emergency food relief organizations to purchase needed equipment.

1. a) Funding

Approximately $500,000 is available for Local Emergency Food Relief Equipment Grants. Funding for this grant opportunity was included in the 2022/23 New York State Budget, making funds available through the Environmental Protection Fund. If additional funds become available for this program, DEC will fund additional projects until all funds are expended.

1. b) Proposed Project Timeframes

All projects must have defined objectives, tasks, and deliverables accounted for in performance measures that can be completed and invoiced within a 3-year contract period/term. Contract term dates must begin between 11/1/2022 – 10/31/2024, for up to a three-year total contract duration. Costs outside of the contract period/term are ineligible. The Master Contract for Grants (MCG) must be fully approved by DEC, and if applicable approved by the Attorney General and the State Comptroller. Time extensions beyond the contract term end date will be determined by the Department based upon written justification from the Grantee. Up to two (2) one-year no cost time extensions will be allowed at the department’s discretion. Applicants should not submit an application if they do not anticipate their project can be completed within the specified contract term.

1. c) Minimum and Maximum Award Amounts

Minimum grant amount is $500; Maximum grant amount is $100,000.

1. d) Application Limit/Award limit

Applicants may submit only one application. The application can contain multiple items. Any ineligible items requested in the application will be excluded from the final award amount. A project submitted as the subject of an application that is determined ineligible may be re-submitted in a new application only if the disqualifying factors can be ameliorated for re-submission before the application deadline.

Awards will be given to applications receiving a pass score in the order they are submitted in Grants Gateway, until DEC withdraws this request for applications, funds are exhausted, or October 4 ^th , 2023, 3:00 PM EST, whichever comes first.

1. e) Eligible Project Locations

Eligible projects for grant funding must be located in New York State.

2. Eligible Applicants

For the purposes of this grant program, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit (NFP) corporations that provide emergency food relief in New York State, excluding New York State Food Banks, are considered eligible applicants. New York State Food Banks are not eligible (DEC provides funding to the Food Banks through other programs).

For this grant opportunity, a NFP is subject to New York State’s Not-For-Profit Corporation Law, is qualified for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Federal Internal Revenue Code, has an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter to be incorporated in New York State and is current in their charities reporting requirements with the Office of the Attorney General.

If a proposed project involves a cooperative agreement or partners, only one eligible, designated lead applicant can submit the application for grant funding. The lead applicant must assume the responsibility for the project application, performance of work consistent with this RFA, and the State of New York Master Contract for Grants. Letters substantiating the collaboration from each partner are required. These letters are to be uploaded to the Grants Gateway in a single PDF under the appropriate Program Question for the application.