Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects
Canada
Boosts community food security and local food accessibility
grant_single|update March 2, 2025
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
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- grant_single|projectCostPercent
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- grant_single|grantStatusClosed
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
grant_single|grantors
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
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grant_card_status|closed
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The Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects offers a maximum non-repayable contribution of $500,000, aimed at enhancing community food security through infrastructure and equipment for local food production. Eligible activities include purchasing and installing equipment to produce, process, distribute, store, or transport food, focusing on equity-deserving groups.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
- Non-repayable contribution funding between $150,000 and $500,000 for Large Scale Projects.
- Projects must include a production element and involve partnerships with at least two partners.
- Cost-sharing: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) funds a maximum of 75% of eligible costs, requiring applicants to cover a minimum of 25%.
- In-kind contributions can constitute up to 50% of the applicant's cost share.
- Applicants who do not receive funding from a particular intake period are eligible to reapply in subsequent rounds.
- Eligible costs include food production elements such as beekeeping equipment, community gardens, greenhouses, irrigation systems, and other specified equipment.
- The ownership of any equipment purchased must be retained by the applicant for a minimum of two years post-project completion.
- All administrative costs are eligible up to 10% of the total eligible costs.
grant_single_labels|projects
- Activities directly related to food production for equity-deserving groups, such as establishing community gardens and greenhouses.
- Developing irrigation systems and installing required infrastructure for local food production.
- Setting up equipment for processing, distributing, storing, and transporting food within the community.
grant_single_labels|admissibility
- The applicant must be one of the following types of organizations: Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) community and/or government, non-profit association, or organization with a mandate or mission to provide community food services.
- Organizations must encourage equity, diversity, and inclusion by eliminating barriers to ensure equal access to opportunities and resources for all individuals, including 2SLGBTQI, Black, and Indigenous communities.
- The applicant must have been in operation for at least 2 years as a legal entity capable of entering legally binding agreements.
- The project must focus on production-related activities to increase community food security for equity-deserving groups.
- Eligible activities include purchasing and installing equipment for food production, processing, distribution, storage, and/or transportation.
- The funding request must address the criteria of improving community food security by building partnerships and enhancing accessibility to nutritious, culturally appropriate food.
- Compliance with Quebec's M-30 law is required for applicants based in Quebec.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
- Indigenous organizations (First Nations, Métis, Inuit)
- First Nations, Inuit, or Métis communities and/or governments
- Non-profit associations representing First Nations, Inuit, or Métis
- Non-profit First Nations, Inuit, or Métis organizations
- Non-profit organizations with a mandate to provide community food services
- Local community, charitable, and volunteer organizations
- Municipal administrations
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
- Schools, school boards, and educational institutions.
- For-profit entities.
- Unincorporated entities.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
- Beekeeping equipment
- Community gardens
- Food forests
- Garden boxes/beds/tools
- Greenhouses
- Hunting, fishing equipment (may include all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, and boats)
- Irrigation systems, wells, solar panels, composting systems
- Seeds, soil, compost (initial year only)
- Tractors and other heavy farm equipment
- Vertical and/or hydroponic gardens
- Equipment for producing food (such as equipment to grow and/or harvest food)
- Equipment for processing, distributing, storing, and/or transporting food
- Administrative costs up to 10% of eligible costs
grant_single_labels|criteria
- Pertinence of the project for the organization.
- The targeted and linked infrastructure/equipment increases the organization's capacity to produce, harvest, process, store, and/or distribute food.
- The ability to improve community food security through collaboration with multiple partners (minimum of 2).
- The ability to manage projects and achieve results, including a reasonable implementation plan with milestones and a clear risk mitigation strategy.
- Impact on the community, demonstrating how the proposed infrastructure/equipment addresses local food security issues and increases access to local, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for equity-deserving groups.
- The project results in an increased level of service, demonstrated in the performance measurement table and responses provided in the application. Additional project benefits are also explained in the application.
- Project sustainability, including the ability to maintain infrastructure or equipment and increase service levels during and beyond the funding agreement.
- Financial information is clear, reasonable, well-described, and amounts match the supporting documents provided.
- Overall quality and clarity of the application, including the completeness of responses.
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Program Information AccessNavigate to the program information section for the Local Food Infrastructure Fund.
- Choose a secure login method to access application materials.
- Step 2: Registration and New ApplicationLog in (or register if new) to the online application portal.
- Select 'Local Food Infrastructure Fund – Large Scale Projects' to start a new application.
- Step 3: Download and Prepare DocumentsDownload the following documents to your computer: Detailed Project Budget, Performance Measurement Table.
- Complete these forms appropriately before re-uploading them.
- Step 4: Enter Project DetailsEnter the title of your project into the portal.
- Click 'Save and continue'.
- Step 5: Complete Application FormFill out the application form, referring to downloaded documents.
- Attach required documents such as the Certificate of Incorporation.
- Attach additional documents as necessary, such as a Letter of Support or permission/ownership letters.
- Step 6: Submit ApplicationVerify the completion and accuracy of your application.
- Submit the application through the portal before the deadline on February 28, 2025.
- Step 7: Confirmation of SubmissionReceive a confirmation of submission for your records.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
- The Indigenous Pathfinder Service is available for Indigenous applicants who need additional support throughout the application process.
- If funding is fully committed or announced to be closed before the deadline, the intake period may close earlier than February 28, 2025.
- Only one project application (either Small Scale or Large Scale) can be funded per eligible applicant over the three-year funding period, with exceptions for Indigenous applicants.
- Contributions from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) are capped at 75% of eligible costs, with a minimum of 25% contribution required from the applicant's side.
- In-kind contributions can form up to 50% of the applicant's cost-share.
- Funding from the program cannot be redistributed to partners.
- Ownership of the equipment purchased with grant funds must remain solely with the applicant, though the equipment can be installed on partner sites with landlord permission.
- The project must exhibit an element of food production, either managed directly by the applicant or through a collaboration with an eligible partner.
- The application materials, like the budget and performance measure documents, must be submitted in their original file format; otherwise, they will not be reviewed.
- Requests for more than $500,000 or less than $150,000 are not eligible for funding, except where ineligible costs are deducted.
grant_single_labels|contact
aaafoodprograms-programmesalimentaires.aac@agr.gc.ca
1-866-367-8506
