Webinar on USDA Local Purchasing Fund
Plus, Gardeneers is hiring, and one giant leek for mankind
One Giant Leek for Mankind
I’m all in on alliums, so why not get ‘em big. This bad boy is from Jacobson Family Farms in Antioch, Illinois, via WhatsGood. It’s destined for a couple of soups.
Tuesday: Webinar on USDA Local Purchasing Fund
I recently published an article about a new USDA Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement program that will award up to $400 million for emergency assistance purchases of domestic local food. Tomorrow (December 21), there is a webinar that will provide more information about how this program will work and enable you to participate in the discussion.
The webinar, scheduled for 3:30-4:30 p.m. central, is being produced by the Wallace Center at Winrock International, a leading national advocate for food hubs and food systems reform.
“We just want to keep the momentum rolling — we cannot emphasize enough how important this opportunity is and we want to make sure all states and tribal governments go for it and have great partnerships and plans in place for their proposals. Say that five times fast!” wrote Susan Lightfoot Schempf, co-director for the Wallace Center, in an e-mail invitation.
Click the button below to register, and for a deeper dive, check out the bullet points from the Wallace Center’s Request for Applications (RFA).
Analysis of the Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement RFA:
The applications will initially need to come from State and Tribal Government entities. State agriculture, human services or education agencies are the most likely departments to apply.
The applications will be accepted on a rolling basis so states can submit plans as soon as they are ready with a final deadline of April 5, 2022.
States and tribal government applicants can subcontract or subaward with partners and collaborators, which can come from private or public, for-profit, or nonprofit entities. Many, if not most states, do not have systems in place to purchase from small and BIPOC producers and most have procurement regulations that can make purchases difficult for criteria other than low price. We anticipate that state agencies will need to partner with groups like yours to ensure this program achieves its goals.
The RFA emphasizes the importance of support for local, regional farmers/producers and for “socially disadvantaged” farmers/producers. They also require that the applications show evidence of existing community or industry support and engagement. This is the big opportunity to get this funding to people who need it in your state! If you are already working with and have relationships with socially disadvantaged farmers and underserved communities, coordinating with the entities in your state that are applying can help strengthen the application.
States have been allocated a budget ceiling for the application based on a TEFAP formula. Exact allocations are on page 7-9 of the RFA. The allocation is for two years and initially only 60% of the funds for each state will be allocated to ensure that tribal governments do not get short-changed.
The “predominance” of the budget must be used to procure food. However, costs associated with outreach, program development, program administration, food storage, and distribution expenses are allowable, as are sub-agreements. Equipment like buildings and trucks can’t be purchased with this funding, but can be rented for the length of the project.
This is a non-competitive process, ie states are entitled to their pre-determined funding. Once the applications are in, AMS will work with applicants to negotiate any revisions because this is a coop agreement, not a grant. If there is funding left over after the initial funding is awarded, USDA will consider awards to local governments.
Funds allocated for a state that are not applied for will be made available to other states that demonstrate that they can use the funds effectively.
Apply By 12/31 To Work With Gardeneers
Gardeneers is an amazing non-profit that builds and maintains school gardens — and presents programming around the gardens — in under-resourced communities on Chicago’s South and West sides. And they are accepting applications for multiple job openings through December 31.
Here is the information from Gardeneers:
Come work with Gardeneers to support our school communities and youth in school garden and farm programs to build their own knowledge, skills, and habits to become better leaders who care for themselves, their communities, and the environment.
Gardeneers is looking to hire for a few full-time positions this upcoming year:
Garden Educator + Americorps Program Manager
Garden Educator + Community Engagement Associate
Americorps Service Members
More information including role description and how to apply can be found here. Applications will be accepted through December 31st and interviews will take place throughout the month of January. Thank you!