Access to Local Foods Grants

Arkansas Community Foundation invited applications from nonprofits who are helping to increase Arkansans’ access to locally grown and produced foods and/or working to strengthen the local food ecosystem, through programs such as the following:

  • Programs that support underrepresented specialty crop farmers from minority (including women) or diverse communities, including technical assistance, equipment, supplies, administrative support or other needs.
  • Programs that operate or pilot innovate strategies to aggregate specialty crops and/or connect local farmers/growers to distribution or retail markets.
  • Programs that support local food ecosystems and collaboration among farmers/growers, technical assistance providers, co-ops, and others involved in food production and distribution (could include learning cohorts).  

These grantees were awarded $30,000 grants, payable over 2 years.

Access to Local Food Grantees

  • Delta Circles, West HelenaDelta Farmers Business Incubator   
  • Communities Unlimited, Fayetteville – Jefferson County Food Farmacy Pilot
  • Zenenvirotech , Little Rock  – Farm and Food Security Project
  • Elaine Legacy Center, Elaine – Vacant Lot Farming
  • Urban Patchwork, Little RockEstablishing a Food Hub
  • McElroy House, Dardanelle – Weaving a Web of Access: Growing Multi-Lingual Food Access in Yell County
  • St. Francis House dba Community Clinic, Springdale – CSA Box Program
  • Winrock Intl, North Little RockAR Food Systems Fellowship
  • St. Joseph Center of AR, North Little RockUrban Farm Innovation Center
  • University of Ozarks, ClarksvilleClarksville Food Hub

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Currently we are not accepting applications for this grant program. This 2-year Access to Local Foods grant was awarded in early 2023. No future application date for this grant program is currently available. For questions or more information contact Annetta Tirey, atirey@arcf.org.

To learn about future grant opportunities, click the link below to sign up for updates.

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Who’s Eligible for These Grants?

  • 501c3 public charities (and organizations that are treated as such under IRS regulation, including schools, churches, hospitals, and government entities) are eligible to apply.

  • Applicants must be based in Arkansas or have a significant on-the-ground presence working in Arkansas. All geographic areas of the state are eligible.

Funding Range

This is a 2-year grant payable at $15,000 in year one, and $15,000 in year 2, for a total award of $30,000.  Year 2 grants will be paid upon receipt and acceptance of required 2023 interim report, to follow one year after initial grant award.  

What We’re Looking For

  • Programs that address barriers to local food production or support small specialty crop growers, especially those from underrepresented farmer/grower communities.
  • Proposals that show evidence of partnership and/or how your program connects to a broader ecosystem of local food production and access.
  • Project personnel (staff or key volunteers) who have experience with food production, farming, food business marketing or other local food systems skills and experience.

What We’re Not Looking For

  • Community gardening programs that are primarily focused on teaching gardening skills or offering a place for neighbors to garden for their own personal use. While these programs are important, this grant opportunity is more focused on increasing wider community access to locally grown food, either through bringing more food to market or significant distribution to people experiencing food insecurity.
  • PK-12 school gardens that are primarily for educational purposes rather than significant food production.