The New Jersey Innovative Healthy Food Retail Initiative is a competitive grant program aimed at increasing access to affordable, nutritious foods in underserved communities throughout New Jersey. Administered jointly by Reinvestment Fund and The Food Trust, and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the initiative seeks to support innovative, community-led food retail projects that align with the goals of the New Jersey Food Security Initiative. These goals focus on enhancing equitable food purchasing power, improving community nutrition, and strengthening local economies by supporting diverse, community-based retail models along the food supply chain.
The program will provide up to $1.5 million in funding over a two-year period (2024–2026), with individual implementation grants of up to $200,000. A limited number of predevelopment grants may also be issued to support early-stage business planning, feasibility studies, and community engagement. Eligible projects must directly increase the availability of staple and perishable foods in areas with high food insecurity, serve low-to-moderate income populations, and be located within New Jersey-designated Low Supermarket Access or Food Desert areas.
Grants may fund hard and soft costs, including construction, equipment, technology, marketing, governance support, and environmental assessments. However, the initiative does not fund agriculture-only projects, charitable food donations, nutrition education, restaurant operations, or general operating capital. The program supports projects that demonstrate readiness, sustainability, community involvement, and innovation, especially those that prioritize increasing SNAP and WIC redemption and represent BIPOC or community ownership.
Applications follow a two-phase process. First, applicants must submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) through Reinvestment Fund’s SmartSimple portal. If eligible, they will be invited to submit a full application. LOIs for Round 1 are due by June 14, 2024, with full applications due by July 15, 2024. If funding remains, Round 2 LOIs must be submitted by October 21, 2024, and full applications are due by November 29, 2024. Awards will be announced in September 2024 for Round 1 and January 2025 for Round 2.
Submissions must include detailed organizational background, a clear description of the proposed project, budget details, and relevant documentation such as financial projections and proof of entity status. Applications are evaluated on criteria including innovation, equity, impact on food access, budget soundness, and project feasibility. Priority points are awarded to projects serving deeply underserved communities, demonstrating cultural competence, or involving local food systems and job creation.
For additional information, applicants may contact NJ-InnovativeHealthyFoodRetail@reinvestment.com or visit the official grant portal at https://www.reinvestment.com/grants/nj-innovative-healthy-food-retail-initiative/. All projects must be completed by March 31, 2026.
