The New Jersey Economic Development Authority Board last month approved more than $9.3 million each in grants to 23 organizations under its Food Equity and Economic Development in New Jersey pilot program.
The approvals mark the second round of awards in the $30-million program and will expand the board’s support for food-security projects in New Jersey’s 14 most acute Food Desert Communities (FDCs). The first 50 approvals totaled $20.6 million and were made during the board’s November meeting.
The total funding of $30 million to 73 organizations is one of the largest investments in recent years dedicated to strengthening the state’s food-security infrastructure.
“The NJEDA has broadened its food-security efforts throughout Gov. Murphy’s administration, supporting innovative solutions that uplift New Jersey’s families, strengthen our economy and open new doors of opportunity,” said the board’s acting CEO Mary Maples.
“The funding … will support a range of projects, including grocery delivery and urban farming programs, empowering local partners and providing lasting support to communities that need it most.”
Each of the 23 grant recipients will receive awards of up to $500,000 and will mostly focus their projects on serving residents of one or more of the highest-need FDCs. Spread across seven counties, they comprise portions of 12 municipalities – including Camden, Pennsauken and Woodlynne – and are home to 567,349 residents.
The second round of awards approved by the board will serve 36 additional FDCs, including Burlington County.
All 50 of the state’s designated FDCs will be served by FEED NJ projects that include creating new or expanded food pantries and mobile markets, partnering with farmers to bring locally grown food to New Jersey residents, buying new delivery vehicles and strengthening meal recovery initiatives.
Visit njeda.gov for the full list of all 73 awardees and descriptions of their proposed projects.
The NJEDA board’s list of 50 state FDCs was created in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, and considers more than 24 variables related to a food-retail environment. A full list and map of the sites are available on the FEED NJ website.
“Just this week a survey of Americans revealed that nearly 70% of people are struggling to afford groceries for their household,” explained Department of Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman. “That is staggering. These grants will help community feeding organizations expand their programs and more effectively address hunger needs in neighborhoods that lack consistent, reliable and affordable access to nutritious food.”
FEED NJ complements the NJEDA board’s tool kit of existing programs, which take different approaches to expanding food access. In November, the board announced that it had provided $900,000 to support the state’s six Emergency Feeding Organizations as they faced increased demand due to the crisis in the SNAP program caused by the federal government shutdown.
FEED NJ is funded with $30 million in proceeds from the NJEDA board’s 2023 and 2024 Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Auctions, authorized by the Food Desert Relief Act of 2021. For more information on the board’s food security programs, visit www.njeda.gov/food-security-programs.
