The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection awarded $1.5 million to nine organizations. It’s a part of the Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance Program Community Partners Grants.
The grant was a competitive review process and ranged from $30,000 to $300,000. Agricultural Marketing Service provides this one-time funding and designed it to support Wisconsin-grown, raised, or minimally processed food and distribute it at no cost to underserved Wisconsin communities.
Grant Recipients
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin (Appleton) will coordinate the procurement of food on behalf of all 11 federally recognized tribes in Wisconsin. This includes distribution in Milwaukee County for the Tribal Elder Food Box Program. Each respective tribe will coordinate its own distribution efforts.
Hunger Task Force, Inc. (Milwaukee) will utilize all grant funds to purchase fresh and minimally processed Wisconsin-produced foods from farmers identified as disadvantaged and underserved. Food pantries in 30 of Wisconsin’s most food-insecure counties will get the food free of charge.
Juneau County (Mauston) Departments of Health, Aging, and Disability, and Land and Water are partnering with local producers to provide sustainable solutions to Wisconsin’s food-insecure residents. The food will go to residents through the home-delivered meals program and pop-up community events via CSAs with other value-added items like honey, syrup, and jams.
Community Action Coalition (Madison) will use these funds to purchase local commodities for distribution to several of our partner pantries. CAC will distribute foods within their emergency food partner network and procure food from eligible producers.
Central Rivers Farmshed (Stevens Point) will use the grant for their Farm, Fresh and Free program. This provides locally grown produce to hunger relief partners and TEFAP-eligible community members. Farmshed will provide support and education on efficient farm operations, market access, grant/loan opportunities, and value-added opportunities.
Wello, Inc (Green Bay) will use funds to support the expansion of the Cultivating Community Healthy Food Access Program. This is a community-led food distribution system that distributes locally sourced produce to low-income populations in Northeast Wisconsin.
Stepping Stones (Menominee) will use these funds to support the Farmers Feed Dunn County– Food Diversification Initiative. This initiative focuses on growing the Farmers Feed program. They will obtain protein from local producers and increase produce for the pantry, pop-ups, and share-a-meal bags.
Hmong American Center (Wausau) will work with local farmer’s markets to provide food catered to Southeast Asian Community. HAC continues to work with partners to distribute culturally appropriate food benefiting both the Hmong community and local farmers.
SLO Farmers Co-op (Seymour) will expand the aggregation and distribution of sustainable, local, and organic meat, eggs, and ground cherries. These are culturally specific for program recipients.
