HFFI Partnerships Program

The America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program is administered by Reinvestment Fund as the National Fund Manager for the United States Department of Agriculture. This federal initiative was established under the Agriculture Acts of 2014 and 2018 and supported by funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The program is designed to improve access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food in underserved communities across the United States while also strengthening food supply chains, supporting job creation, and promoting economic revitalization in low-income areas. Reinvestment Fund, a mission-driven financial institution with extensive experience in community development financing, manages the program and distributes funds to eligible partnerships. The primary purpose of the program is to support the creation, expansion, or implementation of local, regional, and state-level Food Financing Programs. These programs provide financial and technical assistance to food retailers and food enterprises that operate in underserved areas. Eligible projects include grocery stores, food hubs, distributors, and other entities that increase access to staple and perishable foods, particularly in communities with limited food access. The program emphasizes improving food availability through SNAP-authorized retailers and strengthening supply chain resilience by supporting enterprises that contribute to food distribution networks. Funding for the program is provided through grants totaling twenty million dollars for the current funding cycle. Two types of funding activities are available: Capacity Building and Credit Enhancement. Capacity Building grants support operational expenses such as staffing, program development, outreach, and technical assistance. Credit Enhancement grants are designed to expand lending capacity and reduce financial risk through mechanisms such as loan loss reserves, interest rate buy-downs, and collateral support. Individual awards may combine both funding types, with total grant awards capped at three million dollars. Capacity Building grants typically range from two hundred thousand to one million dollars, while Credit Enhancement grants range from five hundred thousand to three million dollars. Eligibility is limited to public-private partnerships consisting of at least two entities, including one public entity such as a government agency, authority, or public institution. Additional partners may include nonprofit organizations, private businesses, financial institutions, and community development entities. Partnerships must demonstrate the ability to provide financial or technical assistance to eligible food-related projects and must focus on improving access to healthy foods in underserved areas. Applicants must also show capacity to manage federal funds, evaluate program outcomes, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. Applications must be submitted electronically through Reinvestment Fund’s SmartSimple grants portal. Applicants are required to review the full Request for Applications and provide detailed information about their partnership structure, proposed activities, budget, service area, and expected outcomes. The application includes narrative sections describing program design, community impact, financial strategy, and implementation plans, along with required documentation such as financial statements, letters of commitment, and partnership agreements. Applications submitted through other means are not accepted. The application deadline for the current funding cycle is September 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. An informational webinar is scheduled for July 21, 2026 to guide applicants through the process. Following submission, applications are screened for eligibility and then evaluated by expert reviewers based on criteria such as program impact, stakeholder involvement, and financial capacity. Award decisions are expected no earlier than December 2026, and selected applicants will enter into a grant agreement with Reinvestment Fund. Grant periods vary depending on funding type, with Capacity Building activities lasting up to three years and Credit Enhancement activities extending up to eight years including servicing periods. There is no matching requirement for this program, though applicants may leverage additional funding sources to strengthen their proposals. The program is competitive and prioritizes partnerships that serve underserved communities, support diverse populations, and demonstrate the ability to expand access to healthy food in meaningful and sustainable ways.

Strong applications demonstrate clear impact on underserved communities strong partnerships and ability to deploy financing effectively with measurable outcomes