Applications for the 2024 SLC Community Food Microgrant Program closed on March 3rd.
About the program:
The SLC Community Food Microgrant Program is a funding opportunity intended to support resident- and community-led projects that address food systems disparities and increase access to fresh, healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant food in Salt Lake City.
The purpose of the SLC Community Food Microgrant Program is to build an inclusive community around healthy food choices where individuals living in Salt Lake City have many opportunities to shape, participate in, and enjoy a sustainable and resilient local food environment.
The Salt Lake City Sustainability Department created the SLC Community Food Microgrant Program in 2023 and distributed over $35,000 in funding to 58 residents, community organizations, and local businesses. In 2024, the Sustainability Department distributed over $40,000 to fund food projects in Salt Lake City. See below for more details on organizational awardees.
Community Food Microgrant goals:
By providing funds to start or continue community-led projects focused on resiliency and accessibility, the SLC Community Food Microgrant aims to achieve the following broad goals:
- Foster resilient, diverse, and inclusive healthy neighborhood food environments.
- Support multiple pathways for traditionally marginalized individuals and neighborhoods to consistently access and grow fresh, affordable, healthy, and culturally relevant food.
- Enhance community and individual agency and self-reliance by reducing barriers and creating opportunities for people to access what they need to grow and prepare their own food.
- Increase the availability and accessibility of food information and resources.
- Create opportunities for residents to affordably and easily acquire food that is relevant to cultural and personal identity, individual health and wellbeing, religious and spiritual life, and personal taste.
Questions?
Contact the Food Systems Resiliency Program Manager, Maria Schwarz by email –
maria.schwarz@slc.gov or by phone/text – (385) 271-7220
The Home Food Production Grant provides $250 for individual residents to build and establish their own gardens, chicken coops, beehives, hoop houses, etc., and/or take educational classes and workshops on gardening. In 2023, forty-five individual residents or households each received a $250 Home Food Production Grant.
The Community Grants provide up to $5,000 for community groups, organizations, or small businesses. See the bottom of this page for a list of the 2024 and 2023 Community Grant recipients and check out some slcgreen blogs that highlight a handful of these awardees.
2024 Community Grantees
In 2024, sixty-two (62) individual residents or households received awards from the Home Food Production Grants category, and ten community groups received funding from the Community Grants category. See below for a list of Community Grant recipients and a brief description of what they each used the funding for.
'Aikona
Grant Category: Growing Food
Primary Location(s): Westside SLC – Glendale, Poplar Grove, Rose Park
Organization: ‘Aikona is a community of gardeners, stewards and storytellers on the Westside of Salt Lake City who seek to heal the land and community through collectively growing food of our Oceania-Pasifika Island cultures, Indigenous and various cultures. We learn and teach our community how to cook and bake with our culture specific fruits and vegetables. We document the stories of our elders through the youth and children.
Project: To detox the soil and land of the plot we have been given. We will clear the area for gardening. We will pick specific cultural plants to the Pacific Islands and Indigenous cultures, Black and additional cultures.
Fill the Pot Ministries
Grant Category: Healthy Food Environments
Primary Location(s): Downtown, 500 W 300 S
Organization: Fill the Pot Ministry was founded to serve our brothers and sisters in need, not just with home cooked meals, but encouragement and love. Our ministry serves hundreds of hot meals every Sunday morning (about 2,200 people per month). We also provide clothing, hygiene items, employment & education assistance, and addiction & mental health support. Our goal is to bring hope to those in need, let them know they matter, and help them get back on their feet.
Project: To develop a garden of flowers and food for unsheltered people to have the opportunity to connect with other humans while learning about plants. Establish a safe space for unsheltered people to cultivate relationships with Fill the Pot Ministries volunteers while growing fresh food for others, which can provide dignity and purpose.
Food Justice Coalition
Grant Category: Dignified food choices
Primary Location(s): office/kitchen in Downtown, services throughout Salt Lake County
Organization: The Food Justice Coalition is dedicated to advancing the cause of equitable healthy food access in Salt Lake City through the development of fresh, nutritionally dense, plant-based meals tailored to benefit food-insecure families and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Project: Support our Free Lunch Program, a critical initiative designed to offer direct and immediate assistance to residents of Utah grappling with food insecurity. Beyond the immediate provision of meals, our program incorporates an educational component through a cookbook and class offerings.
Missio Dei Community
Grant Category: Growing food
Primary Location(s): Guadalupe, Rose Park, Fairpark, Glendale communities
Organization: Missio Dei Community is a Salt Lake City, faith-based organization with a deep commitment to fostering inclusivity and serving our local neighborhood. Our organization was founded with a mission to be an inclusive community that serves its neighborhood.
Project: Convert the southeast side of the property from a grass lawn to a community garden. The garden will be used to grow food for donation to impacted communities in the area, to supply food to community events, and to give people who may not otherwise have access to a growing space.
New American Goat Club
Grant Category: Growing food
Primary Location(s): Glendale/West Valley, most participants live in Salt Lake City
Organization: The New American Goat Club is a summer educational program for new Americans ages 8-18 who are interested in learning about goat husbandry and building connections with other youth from similar backgrounds. The club was founded to serve families that had raised goats in their countries of origin for multiple generations, but who now lack the land and resources to do so in their new home. We work with parents and grandparents who want their children and grandchildren to learn about goat rearing and the cultural importance of goat meat.
Project: Continue its work in teaching New American youth in the Salt Lake City area about goat husbandry while also developing their leadership and teamwork skills. This year, we plan to purchase 15 young goats for our club members to raise over the summer and show at our annual Goat Show. We also plan to hire an intern from among our Goat Club “graduates” to assist club leaders during the 2024 season.
Proyecto Xilonen
Grant Category: Growing food
Primary Location(s): Glendale/West Valley
Organization: Proyecto Xilonen was founded with the purpose of educating communities about the history and importance of maize in Mesoamerican culture. By incorporating historical accounts of the effects that settler colonization has had in Mesoamerican food, Chef Jean hopes to spark interest in the conservation of indigenous ingredients. Additionally, Proyecto Xilonen works to encourage communities and individuals to grow their own food utilizing ancient practices such as the milpa, also known as the Three Sisters Method.
Project: To aid our expansion into a new plot where we will use the Three Sisters Method to grow maize, squash and beans as well as other Mesoamerican crops. Through the process of growing the crops within community settings as well as the harvest of the crops, Proyecto Xilonen will center educational aspects that enrich the communities understanding of the importance of these practices.
Salt Lake City Community Fridges
Grant Category: Dignified food choices
Primary Location(s): Rose Park, Sugarhouse, South Salt Lake
Organization: Network of three community fridges addressing food insecurity and reducing food waste in Salt Lake City neighborhoods. Our purpose is to provide helpful and safe storage infrastructure that encourages Salt Lake City residents to share food resources at a grassroots level.
Project: Replace a fridge that is currently in disrepair with one that is outdoor-ready and energy efficient. We will also purchase food to restock fridges with high demand items (milk, eggs, bread, etc.) when donations are not available and assist volunteer drivers with gas costs for donation pickups. Some funds will support outreach supply budget for informational materials (food safety instructions and signage, outreach fliers, etc.).
Salt Lake City Food Not Bombs
Grant Category: Dignified food choices
Primary Location(s): Central City
Organization: Salt Lake City Food Not Bombs aims to provide access to nutritious and delicious food to neighbors, community members, and underprivileged residents of Salt Lake City, absolutely free of charge. Our organization has operated continuously in Salt Lake City since 1999.
Project: Support existing food recovery and food distribution efforts through purchasing equipment (tables, tents, etc.) and to assist volunteer drivers with gas costs for food deliveries for people who cannot come to our weekly distribution site. We will also continue building upon an organic garden (established in 2023) specifically for Food Not Bombs, where whatever the garden produces is given away, and where beneficiaries have access to a healthy and safe food storage area.
Somali Community Self Management Agency
Grant Category: Growing food
Primary Location(s): Glendale
Organization: The Somali Community Self-Management Agency is a community-based service organization. Our mission is to work for the success of refugees and current community members to undergo a smooth transitional process and attain a self-sustainable status in the United States of America and the State of Utah.
Project: Increase the number of vegetable boxes in the garden we have established and grow a variety of fresh vegetables for the local community to share with their families. Any excess produce will be shared at the local 2-3x weekly food bank we operate at the Hartland Partnership Center.
Vanavil Community Garden
Grant Category: Growing food
Primary Location(s): Ballpark
Organization: The garden was started to share my passion for gardening and eating locally grown, easily accessible produce with my community. Vanavil means “rainbow” in my native language, Tamil. The name initially came from us wanting to grow colorful vegetables like yellow tomatoes and purple carrots that are hard to get at grocery stores, but it has grown to also represent inclusivity. We typically grow varieties of fruits and vegetables that we grew up eating, are easy to cook, but hard to find or expensive in stores. We have grown more produce than we need and spread our unique produce to the community through the local buy nothing group and donated to some small businesses.
Project: Purchase plant starts so we can continue bringing the joy and therapeutic benefits of growing your own food and eating healthy to our community members. We will support local small businesses that carry the unique varieties of vegetables we want to grow.
2023 Awardees
In 2023, forty-five individual residents or households each received $250 Home Food Production Grants, and thirteen organizations received Community Grants. Click here for a list of the 2023 Community Grant recipients and a brief description of what they each used the funding for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for a SLC Food Equity Microgrant?
SLC Food Equity Microgrants are available to the individuals and groups listed below. Only one application will be accepted per household or organization.
- Individual residents or households living in Salt Lake City
- Groups of two or more residents living in the same neighborhood
- Community-based organizations, including both registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations or unregistered community groups based in or serving Salt Lake City
- Community Councils and other neighborhood-based groups and organizations
- Locally-owned businesses, social enterprises, and/or cooperative enterprises
- Local farmers and others who grow and sell food locally
Priority Groups
Projects led by and serving those who identify as members of groups that have been most negatively impacted by the food system will be prioritized for funding. Priority peoples and communities include:
- Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
- Historically marginalized or under-resourced people and neighborhoods, including neighborhoods on the Westside of Salt Lake City
- People and households living in poverty or with low- or moderate-incomes
- Unsheltered or informally sheltered people
- LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities
- People with disabilities
- People with specific health needs
- Veterans
- Adults 65+
- Youth
- Nontraditional students
- People of differing legal status
- Immigrants and the newly arrived
- Formerly incarcerated
- People with deep cultural food relationships
- Groups for whom other funding opportunities are or historically have been limited
In 2023, there was at least one applicant that identified with each of the priority population groups.
Please note the following groups are NOT eligible to receive a grant.
- Government agencies
- Political groups
- Media groups
- Groups or individuals living or serving outside of Salt Lake City
What kinds of projects are eligible for funding?
Any food related projects that connect with the purpose and goals of this grant will be considered for funding. All projects must comply with relevant City, County, and State regulations.
Projects that align with the key ideas and recommendations outlined in the SLC Resident Food Equity Advisors’ Final Report (June 2021) will be prioritized for funding. The four main categories of prioritized projects include:
- Growing Food – Projects that support expanding opportunities and access to growing more food locally
- Project examples: urban agriculture projects, community gardens, backyard gardening and food production, neighborhood orchards, neighborhood greenhouses, fruit-gleaning projects, garden education projects, indoor/vertical farming initiatives, composting efforts
- **Note that new community garden projects will not be considered on public property. Please work through the City’s Green City Growers Program if you are interested in proposing a new community garden.
- **Please note, no fruit trees are allowed in Salt Lake City park strips.
- 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
- Project examples: client choice food pantries, culturally appropriate food pantries, mobile pantries or food delivery projects, food or cash vouchers, neighborhood micro-pantries, mutual-aid model food sharing projects
- Neighborhood 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
- Project examples: healthy corner stores, fresh food carts, community markets, healthy food incentive programs, direct market outlets (farmers markets, farm stands, CSAs), fresh food delivery programs, streetscape or building improvements around local markets
Where can projects take place? Can projects be located on public and private property?
Projects must be located in Salt Lake City. Projects may take place on either public or private property. Proof of ownership or permission from the property owner may be required before projects are approved for funding.
See a map of the SLC boundaries here.
How do I apply for a grant?
Applications are available and accepted in multiple formats including an online or paper form; a phone call, video chat, or in-person meeting; or an audio or video recording. Applications must address all the questions in the form (linked on this webpage) to be considered complete.
- Written options: online form, digital form (Word document or fillable pdf), or paper form
- Digital forms should be submitted by email to the Program Manager
- Paper applications should be sent or delivered to the following address: Sustainability Department, Food Equity Microgrant Program, 451 South State Street, Room #418, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84114
- Paper applications may also be dropped off at any of the SLC Library branches
- Recorded options: an audio or video recording responding to the application questions
- Recorded responses should be submitted by email to the Program Manager
- Live exchange options: phone call, video chat, or in-person meeting with the Program Manager
- To schedule a live exchange application appointment, contact the Program Manager
Applications are available and accepted in any language. Application forms in a language other than Spanish or English are available upon request.
If you need help accessing the grant application or would like to request the application information in a
different format or language, please contact the Program Manager. Maria Schwarz –
email: maria.schwarz@slc.gov phone: (385) 271-7220
The 2024 SLC Food Equity Microgrant application period will be open until March 3rd, 11:59 PM.
I was awarded a Food Equity Microgrant last year. Can I apply again in 2024?
Yes! Awardees from 2023 are eligible to apply for funding a second time, but please note that priority may be given to new applicants.
How will I get the money if selected?
Three options are available for grant recipients to receive funding for their project:
- Funds provided via check to project leader after completing a W-9 form and signing a contract with Salt Lake City.
- Grant recipients may request reimbursement for purchases made for services and supplies used for their project after completing a W-9 form and signing a contract with Salt Lake City.
- Sustainability team can purchase needed supplies or services for the project.
What can grant money be used for? Is there anything it can’t be used for?
Approved uses of funds include:
- Project equipment and supplies
- Educational opportunities
- Professional services or personnel compensation directly related to the project
Funds are not to be used for the following:
- Personal use (rent, groceries, or other living/business expenses)
- Political activities (lobbying or campaigning)
How will projects be selected for funding?
How will projects be selected for funding?
Are there requirements for the grant recipients?
Yes. Grant recipients will be asked to do the following:
- Attend an orientation training
- Sign an agreement with the City outlining the responsibilities, expectations, and requirements of receiving funding.
- Register with the City to receive the funding. This may involve tax reporting implications if you choose to have the grant disbursed directly to you.
- Report outcomes of the funded project, including photos, to the Sustainability Department
I’ve never applied for a grant before, can I get help with the application?
Yes! You can contact the Program Manager, Maria Schwarz, for help with your project idea or grant
application.
email: maria.schwarz@slc.gov
phone: (385) 271-7220
When will the grant recipients be announced?
Grant recipients will be selected and notified in early April 2024.
When will I get the money, if I am selected for funding?
Funds will be distributed in April / May 2024
Selected projects will need to sign an agreement contract, register for payment with the City, and attend an orientation prior to receiving their funds.
What does “equity” mean for this grant program?
Equity in Salt Lake City is acknowledging and addressing historic and current disparities experienced by our residents, employees, businesses, neighborhoods, and visitors. Salt Lake City provides access to resources and opportunities that support everyone in overcoming barriers to their success so that our community today, and generations tomorrow, can thrive.
The SLC Food Equity Microgrant Program grew out of recommendations made by our Resident Food Equity Advisors to improve food access and equity in Salt Lake City. It is a material example of the overall effort by the Sustainability Department to shift the way policy and programs are developed and delivered to emphasize inclusive, community-driven approaches where solutions to challenges are co-developed with our communities and residents. Our goal is to advance solutions that reflect the local knowledge, lived experience, and diverse priorities of residents and organizations whose lives have been impacted by structural inequities in the food system by providing funding to support new and existing food related projects.
We are committed to centering equity and accessibility in both the process and outcomes of this program and welcome feedback about ways to make this grant accessible to more people. If you have questions or suggestions about our equity work in Salt Lake City’s food system, please contact the Food & Equity Program Manager, Maria Schwarz.
If you have a question that is not answered above, please contact the Food Systems Resiliency Program Manager, Maria Schwarz by email – maria.schwarz@slc.gov or by phone/text – (385) 271-7220