The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) board recently approved more than $20.6 million in grant awards to 50 organizations under the Food Equity and Economic Development in New Jersey (FEED NJ) Pilot Program.
The awards are the first set of approvals under the $30 million FEED NJ program and will support food security projects in New Jersey’s 14 most acute Food Desert Communities (FDCs), catalyzing innovative, sustainable and scalable food access initiatives in underserved areas.
In all, the total funding of $30 million is one of the largest investments in recent years dedicated to strengthening the state’s food security infrastructure.
The NJEDA’s list of New Jersey’s 50 FDCs, which was created in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, considers more than 24 variables related to the food retail environment, demographics and economic, health and community factors.
“My administration has been laser-focused on erasing systemic barriers that limit access to affordable, healthy food options,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “By expanding food access in New Jersey communities, we will improve quality of life for residents and strengthen our economic security, creating a stronger and fairer Garden State.”
“Under Gov. Murphy’s leadership, the NJEDA has expanded our robust food security tool kit to combat hunger through innovative approaches, which is helping improve the well-being of New Jerseyans while strengthening our economy and expanding access to new opportunities for residents,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan.
“From establishing mobile markets to renovating community food pantries, the creative initiatives to bolster food security funded through FEED NJ will give a boost to local organizations and ensure they have the resources to support underserved communities for the long term.”
Each of the 50 awardees under FEED NJ will receive awards of up to $500,000 and will primarily focus their projects on serving residents of one or more of the highest-need FDCs, which are spread across seven counties, comprise portions of 12 municipalities and are home to 567,349 residents.
Primary Focus FDCs include portions of Bridgeton, Camden, Fairfield Township, Lawrence Township, Newark, New Brunswick, Passaic City, Paterson, Pennsauken, Salem City, Trenton and Woodlynne.
The first round of awards approved by NJEDA’s board will also serve 25 additional FDCs, such as Elizabeth, Irvington, Jersey City, Lakewood and Perth Amboy, though the primary focus of each applicant’s project will remain on at least one of the Primary Focus FDCs.
The full list of awardees and descriptions of their proposed projects can be found here.
Additional awards totaling approximately $9.4 million will be made later. Grantee’s projects 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 trucks, and growing meal recovery initiatives.
