Grown in DC Pilot Initiative
GRANT FOR GROWN IN DC PILOT INTIATIVE
DSLBD is announcing grant dollars up to $75,000 for Fiscal Year 2017 to DC non-profits supporting farmers’ markets and cottage food vendors in areas eligible under the Food, Environmental, and Economic Development in the District of Columbia Act of 2010. Successful applicants may be eligible for renewal of up to $125,000 after October 1, 2017.
Eligible project areas are in HUB Zones and/or Census Tracts 18.01, 33.01, 95.05, 95.07, or 95.08.
Does your organization support creating strength across farmer’s markets or supporting small food vendors in the eligible areas? Consider applying.
Submission deadline is Friday, August 25 at 2:00 p.m. All submissions are to be made in hard copy and hand delivered to the DSLBD front desk at 441 4th Street, NW, Suite 850N, Washington, DC 20001.
NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY (NOFA)
Available in the August 18, 2017 edition of the DC Register (http://www.dcregs.dc.gov).
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Email questions to Katherine Mereand at [email protected]. Any interested applicant may also request to receive answers to any other questions asked by other parties, but not the identity of other parties.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
To develop and pilot a proof of concept for achieving critical mass of vendors and customers at or near a market or markets to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in DC food deserts through the use of the pending cottage food regulations implementation through the following avenues:
- Branding & marketing: create a website, logo, and conduct outreach, based on the initial DSLBD “Made In DC” infrastructure.
- Market operations: such as staff time, permits, and purchasing of materials like tables, tents, etc.
- Training & Technical Assistance: to offer additional support for cottage food regulation guidance and seed an entrepreneurial training program.
- Additional, Flexible Grants: optionally, the grantee could produce, with approval from DSLBD, competitive micro grants to cover unanticipated vendor expenses related to coordination, which could be converted to micro-grants for equipment or licensing, or underwriting support for micro-loans.