Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development Center (hufed)

 

To establish a competitive grants program to support a Healthy Urban Food Enterprise Development Center to increase access to healthy affordable foods, including locally produced agricultural products, to underserved communities. The purpose of the Center is to increase access to healthy affordable foods, including locally produced agricultural products, to underserved communities.

Deleted 02/05/2016 (Archived.) 10.316 Agency: Department of Agriculture
Office: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Project Grants Fiscal Year 2013: Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, Public Law 112-55, did not provide funding for the HUFED program in FY 2012, 2013, or 2014; therefore, NIFA did not offer the funding opportunity this fiscal year. (Per NIFA’s website - http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/healthyurbanfoodenterprisedevelopmentcenter.cfm). Fiscal Year 2014: The HUFED Center award expired on June 30, 2013. A final report detailing activities and accomplishments was submitted March, 2014. Fiscal Year 2015: This program is not funded in the 2014 Farm Bill. However, the award has not yet reached the Statutory Time Limit. Hence, NIFA does not wish to archive this CFDA Program. Section 25 of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2034), as amended by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and Section 4402 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (FCEA) of 2008 (Public Law 110-246), Section (h) (9) (A). , 7 U.S.C 2034. Nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for and receive awards under the HUFED Center authority (7 U.S.C. 2034 (h)(2)). Nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for and receive awards under the HUFED Center authority (7 U.S.C. 2034 (h)(2)). No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. All RFAs are published on the Agency’s website and Grants.gov. Applicants must complete the Grants.gov registration process. Please see the following Grants.gov link for more information: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. An environmental impact statement is required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Applications should be submitted as outlined in the RFA. Applications must follow the instructions provided per Grants.Gov and in the Agency guide to submitting applications via Grants.gov. Applications are subjected to a system of peer and merit review in accordance with section 103 of the Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 1613) by a panel of qualified scientists and other appropriate persons who are specialists in the field covered by the proposal. Within the limit of funds available for such purpose, the NIFA Authorized Departmental Officer (ADO) shall make grants to those responsible, eligible applicants whose applications are judged most meritorious under the procedures set forth in the RFA.

Reviewers will be selected based upon training and experience in relevant scientific, extension, or education fields, taking into account the following factors: (a) The level of relevant formal scientific, technical education, or extension experience of the individual, as well as the extent to which an individual is engaged in relevant research, education, or extension activities; (b) the need to include as reviewers experts from various areas of specialization within relevant scientific, education, or extension fields; (c) the need to include as reviewers other experts (e.g., producers, range or forest managers/operators, and consumers) who can assess relevance of the applications to targeted audiences and to program needs; (d) the need to include as reviewers experts from a variety of organizational types (e.g., colleges, universities, industry, state and Federal agencies, private profit and non-profit organizations) and geographic locations; (e) the need to maintain a balanced composition of reviewers with regard to minority and female representation and an equitable age distribution; and (f) the need to include reviewers who can judge the effective usefulness to producers and the general public of each application.

Evaluation Criteria will be delineated in the RFA.

Priority:
In providing technical assistance and grants under Section :070 - Activities, the Center shall give priority to applications that include projects—
(A) to benefit underserved communities; and
(B) to develop market opportunities for small and mid-sized farm and ranch operations. Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. From 30 to 180 days. Not Applicable. If applicable, information regarding renewals will be announced in the Request for Applications (RFA) each year. Within guidelines established for the program as described in the RFAs. The Secretary shall offer to provide a grant to a nonprofit organization to establish and support a healthy urban food enterprise development center to carry out the purpose described in Section :050 - Objectives.

Assistance will be provided to support a community food project. The term ‘community food project’ means a community-based project that-
(A) requires a 1-time contribution of Federal assistance to become self-sustaining; and H. R. 6124—247

(B) is designed—
(i)(I) to meet the food needs of low-income individuals;
(II) to increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for the food needs of the communities; and
(III) to promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues; or
(ii) to meet specific State, local, or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs relating to—
(I) infrastructure improvement and development;
(II) planning for long-term solutions; or
(III) the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

The term ‘Center’ means the healthy urban food enterprise development center established under Section :050 - Objectives.

The term ‘underserved community’ means a community (including an urban or rural community or an Indian tribe) that, as determined by the Secretary, has—
(A) limited access to affordable, healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables;
(B) a high incidence of a diet-related disease (including obesity) as compared to the national average;
(C) a high rate of hunger or food insecurity; or
(D) severe or persistent poverty.

ACTIVITIES –
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION:
The Center shall collect, develop, and provide technical assistance and information to small and medium-sized agricultural producers, food wholesalers and retailers, schools, and other individuals and entities regarding best practices and the availability of assistance for aggregating, storing, H. R. 6124—248 processing, and marketing locally produced agricultural products and increasing the availability of such products in underserved communities.

AUTHORITY TO SUBGRANT:
The Center may provide subgrants to eligible entities—
(i) to carry out feasibility studies to establish businesses for the purpose described in Section :050 - Objectives; and
(ii) to establish and otherwise assist enterprises that process, distribute, aggregate, store, and market healthy affordable foods.

Grant Priority:
In providing technical assistance and grants under the “Activities” section above, the Center shall give priority to applications that include projects—
(A) to benefit underserved communities; and
(B) to develop market opportunities for small and mid-sized farm and ranch operations. LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
Not more than 10 percent of the total amount allocated for this subsection in a given fiscal year may be used for administrative expenses.

If available, the current rate negotiated with the cognizant Federal negotiating agency should be used. Indirect costs may not exceed the negotiated rate. If a negotiated rate is used, the percentage and base should be indicated. If no rate has been established the applicant may indicate "None—will negotiate" and a reasonable dollar amount for indirect costs may be requested, which will be subject to approval by USDA. In the latter case, if a proposal is recommended for funding, an indirect cost rate proposal must be submitted prior to award to support the amount of indirect costs requested. NIFA will request an indirect cost rate proposal and provide instructions, as necessary.

An applicant may elect not to charge indirect costs and, instead, use all grant funds for direct costs. Grantees are to submit initial project information and annual summary reports to NIFA’s electronic, Web-based inventory system that facilitates both grantee submissions of project outcomes and public access to information on Federally-funded projects. The details of the reporting requirements are included in the award terms and conditions.

For each fiscal year for which the nonprofit organization described in Section :070 above receives funds, the organization shall submit to the Secretary a report describing the activities carried out in the preceding fiscal year, including—
(A) a description of technical assistance provided by the Center;
(B) the total number and a description of the subgrants provided under Section :070 above;
(C) a complete listing of cases in which the activities of the Center have resulted in increased access to healthy, affordable foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly for school-aged children and individuals in low- income communities; and
(D) a determination of whether the activities identified in subparagraph (C) (above) are sustained during the years following the initial provision of technical assistance and subgrants under this section. NIFA uses the SF-425, Federal Financial Report to monitor cash. Grantees are to submit initial project information and annual summary reports to NIFA’s electronic, Web-based inventory system that facilitates both grantee submissions of project outcomes and public access to information on Federally-funded projects. The details of the reporting requirements are included in the award terms and conditions. A final “Financial Status Report” (SF-269) or “Federal Financial Report” (SF-425) is due within 90 days of the expiration date of the grant and should be submitted to the address listed below, in accordance with instructions contained in 2 CFR 3430.55 (also refer to Section 3015.82 of the Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations).


Awards Management Division (AMD)
Office of Grants and Financial Management (OGFM)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
STOP 2271
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-2271
Telephone: (202) 401-4986. Grantees are to submit initial project information and annual summary reports to NIFA’s electronic, Web-based inventory system that facilitates both grantee submissions of project outcomes and public access to information on Federally-funded projects. The details of the reporting requirements are included in the award terms and conditions. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Audits will be conducted in accordance with guidelines established in the revised OMB Circular No. A-133, “Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations,” and implemented in 7 CFR 3052. This program is also subject to audit by the cognizant Federal audit agency and the USDA Office of Inspector General. In accordance with the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Non-profit Organizations [2 CFR 215, Subpart C, Section 215.53, (OMB Circular A-110)] grantees shall maintain separate records for each grant to ensure that funds are used for authorized purposes. Grant-related records are subject to inspection during the life of the grant and must be retained at least three (3) years. Records must be retained beyond the three-year period if litigation is pending or audit findings have not been resolved. Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
This program has no matching requirements.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program. The term of competitive project grants and/or cooperative agreements under this program may not exceed three (3) years. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit. None. USDA, NIFA, National Program Leader, Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition, Division of Nutrition, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 2225, Washington, District of Columbia 20250-2225 Phone: (202) 401-2138 Fax: (202) 401-6488 http://www.nifa.usda.gov/ 12-0502-0-1-352. (Project Grants) FY 13 $0; FY 14 est $0; and FY 15 est $0 - This program is no longer being funded.

(A) IN GENERAL:
Out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 2011.

NOTE:
There has been no recent funding for this Program. However, the award(s) have not yet reached the Statutory Time Limit. Hence, NIFA does not wish to archive this CFDA Program. If minimum or maximum amounts of funding per competitive project grant or cooperative agreement are established, these will be announced in the annual program announcement or RFA. 7 CFR Part 3430, Competitive and Noncompetitive Non-formula Grant Programs – General Grant Administrative Provisions and Program-Specific Administrative Provisions; 7 CFR Part 3015, USDA Uniform Federal Assistance Regulations; 7 CFR Part 3017, Government wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement); 7 CFR Part 3018, New Restrictions on Lobbying; 7 CFR Part 3019, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Non-profit Organizations; and 7 CFR Part 3021— USDA implementation of Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-free Workplace (Financial Assistance). Fiscal Year 2013: Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, Public Law 112-55, did not provide funding for the HUFED program in FY 2012, 2013, or 2014; therefore, NIFA did not offer the funding opportunity this fiscal year. (Per NIFA’s website - http://www.nifa.usda.gov/fo/healthyurbanfoodenterprisedevelopmentcenter.cfm). Fiscal Year 2014: The HUFED Center award expired on June 30, 2013. A final report detailing activities and accomplishments was submitted on 3/37/2014.
Accomplishments:
The HFED Center supported 30 grantees. The grantees created new practices, models, and systems that benefit the communities they serve. A report on lessons learned was released. Findings from the project have been placed in four categories:1) innovations in community engagement; 2) innovations in affordability and profitability; 3) innovations in infrastructure and logistics; and 4) innovations in marketing.
Publication: Muldoon, M.F. Taylor, A.K., Richman, N. Fisk, J., (2013) Innovations in local food enterprise; fresh ideas for practitioners, investors, and policymakers for a just and profitable food system. Arlington, VA:Wallace at Winrock International. Fiscal Year 2015: This program is not funded in the 2014 Farm Bill. However, the award has not yet reached the Statutory Time Limit. Hence, NIFA does not wish to archive this CFDA Program.