The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets is seeking applicants for the FreshConnect CSA for SNAP grant program.

The FreshConnect CSA for SNAP program will provide funding to eligible organizations to partially subsidize the cost of CSA shares to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants. New York producers are eligible to receive up to 50% of the cost of a weekly share purchased by a SNAP recipient with their SNAP benefits through an awarded third-party applicant. All proposals should identify the producers being targeted and/or the beneficiaries of the reduced cost share, as applicable to the project. A maximum amount of 20% of the award may be used for administrative costs directly related to the project.

A total of $250,000 in funding is available through this Request for Applications. Applications may request a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $50,000.

Awards will be made to eligible, qualifying projects, in order of receipt of complete applications, until funding is exhausted. A complete application includes applicant registration and pre-qualification in Grants Gateway. If there is insufficient funding available to fund all eligible and complete applications received on the same day and time, those applications will be placed in a lottery and chosen for funding at random.

Once a contract is fully executed, grant funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis. Awardees may request, at the discretion of the Department, an initial payment of up to 25 percent of the total grant award. The Department may retain 10 percent of the budget amount to be dispersed to the contractor when the final report is completed and accepted

Eligible Applicants Include Not-For-Profit Organizations, Indian Tribal Organizations, Public Educational Institutions and Local or Municipal Governments.

Applicants may submit one application for this funding opportunity. No matching funds are required.

All interested applicants must apply through Grants Gateway by November 1, 2023 by 3:00 p.m.

An informational webinar on this grant opportunity will be held on August 3, 2023 at 11:00am. Register for this informational webinar through the following link:

Registration - FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Informational Webinar

The RFA, Grants Gateway Proposal Submission Instructions, and associated documents are available for printing from the Department’s website at https://agriculture.ny.gov/rfa-0307-freshconnect-csa-snap-program .