Community Gardens Project

North Dakota Health and Human Services is offering the Community Gardens Project through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year effort supported by the federal Rural Health Transformation Program established under Public Law 119-21 and administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. North Dakota’s RHTP is focused on practical, locally driven solutions for rural and tribal communities through four initiatives: Make North Dakota Healthy Again, Strengthen and Stabilize Rural Health Workforce, Bring High-Quality Health Care Closer to Home, and Connect Tech, Data, and Providers for a Stronger North Dakota. This opportunity falls under Initiative 1, Make North Dakota Healthy Again, and is intended to improve health, stability, and well-being through locally led community garden projects. The purpose of the Community Gardens Project is to support leaders in North Dakota’s rural and tribal communities in developing and delivering community gardens that increase access to healthy food and promote wellness. The guidance describes community gardens as collaborative efforts where people from many walks of life come together to plant and grow food. Eligible projects may be school-based, community-led, or organized by other local partners, and they are expected to address outcomes such as improved nutrition, increased physical activity, enhanced mental well-being, stronger social connection, volunteerism, community collaboration, environmental sustainability, and improvements in policies, systems, and environments that make healthy choices easier. Applicants must explain how their proposed project incorporates six required success components: the right people, the right plan, the right place, the right policies, the right publicity, and the preparation. The application must identify the target population, project leadership, community partners, volunteer support, project goals, garden location, plots, water access, leases or land-use arrangements, liability insurance, garden rules, publicity plans, launch activities, site preparation, anticipated crops, harvest distribution, yields, and methods for documenting success. Applicants must also propose strategies, activities, and measurable outcomes aligned with the Make North Dakota Healthy Again evaluation plan and metrics. Eligibility is open to leaders of North Dakota’s rural and tribal communities, including but not limited to 4-H youth development programs, civic groups, municipalities, tribal councils, tribal colleges, tribal health departments, health care facilities, senior centers, worksites, public health units, schools, Head Start programs, cultural centers, after-school programs, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, communities of faith, and nonprofit organizations. Eligible applicants may apply for more than one RHTP funding opportunity, and there is no limit to the number of applications that may be submitted. A total of $300,000 in federal funding is available in year one, with an estimated 10 awards of approximately $30,000 each expected. Projects may be renewed at an appropriate level each year for up to five years if progress is successful and continued federal funding is available. The operating period begins once the agreement is fully executed after required approvals and signatures, and the funding period ends September 30, 2027. All funds must be fully expended by that date. Grant funds cannot be used to purchase land, purchase a greenhouse or related structure, purchase a vehicle, pay pre-award costs, supplant existing funding, meet matching requirements for other federal or local funds, or support other unallowable costs listed in the guidance. Modified total direct administrative costs are limited to 10 percent. Applications are due May 22, 2026, at 5 p.m. Central Time and must be submitted through Qualtrics. Applications received after the deadline will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed. Required application sections include Background Information, Project Narrative, Action Plan, and Budget. The budget must use the ND HHS provided template and include itemized costs with justification by category. Applications will be reviewed and scored solely on the submitted application materials using the scoring tool. ND HHS aims to notify applicants in a timely manner, may require supplemental responses or proposal changes to uphold RHTP commitments, and will send awarded applicants an agreement to sign and return. Questions may be sent to rhtp@nd.gov, and applicants are strongly encouraged to submit questions through the RHTP FAQ Survey before seven days prior to the submission deadline.

Address all six required community garden success components: people, plan, place, policies, publicity, and preparation. Provide specific measurable outcomes aligned with Make North Dakota Healthy Again metrics. Explain how the project enhances rather than duplicates existing efforts because RHTP funds cannot supplant existing funding. Ensure the budget avoids unallowable costs such as land purchase, greenhouse or related structure purchase, vehicle purchase, pre-award costs, and supplanting.