February 2, 2024

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Mayor Erin Mendenhall and the Salt Lake City Sustainability Department released a new round of food equity microgrants this week. The program, which began in 2023 aims to increase residents’ access to fresh, healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant food.

Individuals may apply for grants of $250 to grow or raise their own food. Community grants of up to $5,000 are also available to local organizations. The total budget is $50,000 and was approved by the City Council for Fiscal Year 2024, an increase from last year’s pilot program. 

“We funded some truly amazing organizations and residents last year and their food equity work had a great impact on our community,” said Mayor Mendenhall. “The overwhelmingly positive response we had for a first-year grant program showed us how dedicated our community is toward making healthy, local, and culturally relevant food accessible to everyone. It also showed us just how important it is that we continue to offer the City’s support through this grant program.”

The four main categories of prioritized funding for 2024 projects include: 

• Growing Food – Projects that support expanding opportunities and access to growing more food locally.
• Inclusive Outreach & Communications – Projects that support accessibility and availability of information about food resources to groups that experience challenges with traditional informational outlets.
• Dignified Food Access – Projects that support improving access to healthy and relevant food opportunities that center and respect the agency and choice of individuals.
• Healthy Food Environments – Projects that support the availability and accessibility of healthy, fresh foods and enhance the quality and character of the food environments near where people live.

Projects led by and serving those who identify as members of groups most negatively impacted by the food system will be prioritized for funding. Applications are available and accepted in any language. Individuals and organizations may submit applications through the online form or through a variety of other methods including a paper form, phone call, video chat, in-person meeting, or an audio or video recording.

Applications are open through March 3, 2024. Last year’s community grantees and their projects can be viewed on the Microgrant webpage.

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Interested residents and organizations can visit the program page to learn more, access the application, and learn more about last year’s grantees at: www.slc.gov/sustainability/food-equity-grant/

For more information on the Resident Food Equity Advisors Program, visit: https://www.slc.gov/sustainability/rfea-2020-2021/

See a summary of their recommendations here: http://www.slcdocs.com/slcgreen/Food/SLC%20RFEA%202020-21%20Summary.pdf