Community Food Projects grant cycle to begin soon--change inprocess for 2006

**"Betsy Johnson" b*@bgjohnson.com**

COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS GRANTS

WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR 2006

The Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program provides the
major funding source for community-based food and agriculture projects in
the U.S.  Approximately $5 million in funds will be available in 2006.  A
Request for Applications (RFA) is expected to be released in early January.

Federal sources note that there will be an important change in the
application process this year:  brief letters of intent will be due
approximately 30 days after the release of the RFA.  The letters will be
reviewed and applicants with relevant project outlines will be asked to
submit a full proposal within 60 days.  Detailed procedures will be
announced in the RFA.

The CFP Program supports projects that:

-Help meet the food needs of low-income people,

-Increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food
needs,

-Promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues,
and

-Meet specific state, local, or neighborhood food and agriculture needs for
infrastructure improvement and development, long-term planning, or the
creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit
agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

The 2005 version of the Request for Applications (RFA) is still available
at:

http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1080
<http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1080>
<http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1080> .

THE COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY COALITION (CFSC)
OFFERS FREE ASSISTANCE TO HELP YOU DEVELOP A SUCCESSFUL PROPOSAL

One-on-One Assistance to Grant Applicants

CFSC's technical assistance specialists can help you decide whether or not
to apply, clarify CFP program guidelines, address technical questions,
provide feedback on program plans or proposal drafts, and help you develop
an evaluation plan.  CFSC will sponsor up to 75 minutes of one-on-one
assistance per grant applicant at no cost.  See
http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html
<http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html>
<http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html>  for details.

Community Food Projects Planning Guide and Other Materials

This Planning Guide provides a wealth of information about CFP program
guidelines and how to develop a strong proposal. It is available for free at
http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html
<http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html>
<http://www.foodsecurity.org/cfp_help.html>  (scroll down to bottom of
page).  The CFSC website also includes examples of successful CFP grant
proposals.

______________________________________________________
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