Application Process
Coming Soon
Atlanta Food Access Investment Initiative Grant
Invest Atlanta, as part of the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Partnerships Program through Reinvestment Fund, has launched the Atlanta Food Access Investment Initiative Grant to support food enterprise operators and expand availability of staple and perishable foods in disinvested and food desert communities.
Note: Applications are open from xxx to xxx.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
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Applicants must submit a current City of Atlanta business license.
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Applicants must submit a current Georgia Secretary of State registration.
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Applicants must be located in, or serve residents of, disinvested and/or food desert communities.
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Disinvested and food desert communities (qualified areas) may be reviewed with this qualified areas map.
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Qualified food enterprise project categories include:
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Food Retail: a retail outlet that accepts benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 USC 2011 et seq.).
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Food Supply Chain Resilience: food supply chain diversification such that it provides consumers with access to fresh, healthy foods and provides retailers, food enterprises, and/or producers with more, better, and new market opportunities in favorable market conditions and in order to withstand and recover from disruptions and times of crisis or disaster.
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Food enterprises must be operating in a commercial space in the City of Atlanta.
- Applicants who operate a food retail business must accept SNAP benefits.
- Food retail applicants must provide a current Food Sales Establishment License. Food retail applicants who do not currently operate a food retail location and will use grant funds to open a food retail location must provide a Food Retail Sales Establishment License prior to the end of the grant agreement or the opening of the food retail location, whichever is earlier.
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Applicants who apply for grant funding for a food supply chain resilience project must demonstrate how grants funds would improve their capacity to supply food enterprises in qualified communities and withstand or recover from disruptions and times of crisis or disaster.
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Food enterprises who lease commercial space should have a minimum of 3 years left on their lease and must provide written approval from the property owner to apply for and accept an Atlanta Food Access Investment Initiative Grant.
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Owners of vacant commercial properties in priority areas may be eligible to apply. Please reach out to faii@investatlanta.com prior to submitting an application, as vacant properties may be eligible if the scope of work will bring the property into leasable condition for a food enterprise.
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Approved grants are subject to the terms and conditions of an executed grant agreement. Grant proceeds cannot be used for improvements completed prior to application approval and execution of Grant Agreement. Grant proceeds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis. Requisitions for grant funds cannot be submitted more frequently than every 15 days and are subject to the terms and conditions identified in the grant agreement. Requisitions will only be accepted from Grantee and in a form approved by Invest Atlanta.
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Awardees must provide a match equal to at least 10% of the grant award.
Ineligible Applicants Include:
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Properties not zoned for commercial use, properties operating as package stores or for purposes of adult entertainment, including gambling, are not eligible.
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Projects including restaurants, consumer packaged goods, agriculture-only projects (farming, ranching, hydroponics, aquaponics, gardening), meat and poultry processors, fisheries or aquaculture, charitable food (free food distribution such as food pantries, food banks, meals programs, and food donations), and/or public health nutrition, nutrition education, research studies, or culinary initiatives.
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Entities that are subject to current litigation or any unresolved disputes are not eligible.