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News August 3, 2021

Philadelphia Food Justice Initiative Opens 2021 Funding Round

Topic Initiatives

$380,000 in grants available to advance community-driven solutions to historic food injustice

Philadelphia, August 3, 2021 — The Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Reinvestment Fund issued a call today for proposals investing $350,000 to develop innovative projects aimed at creating more healthy food options in Philadelphia. Non-profits, businesses, and collectives can apply for up to $100,000.

This project, the Philadelphia Food Justice Initiative (PFJI), was first launched in 2020 by the Reinvestment Fund and the Health Department’s Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, also known as Get Healthy Philly.

“These public health initiatives invest in the healthy community visions of Philadelphians. Health is not only nourishing food but good working conditions, agency, and healing of mind, body and community,” said Amanda Wagner, Nutrition and Physical Program Manager, Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

PFJI welcome ideas and projects from applicants that want to build food justice in Philadelphia and embody a health justice vision. To be selected, applicants must propose a project that has deep roots in a neighborhood or community; broad citywide reach, or the potential for systems change or scaling up over time. With additional support from the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Safe and Healthy Communities Program, PFJI will have approximately $380,000 available for grants in this third funding round.

“We want to support community-driven solutions working to eliminate historic and systemic barriers that have prevented individual and community well-being,” shared Molly Hartman, Program Director at Reinvestment Fund. “Whether it’s a long-standing organization with an established program or a budding entrepreneur with a fresh idea, if they need some support to help scale or take that next step, PFJI could be the right resource.”

Projects could include growing or making food (gardening, incubator or community kitchens, food manufacturing or production) moving/distributing food (group purchasing, new delivery systems or solutions), selling food (retail or prepared), food waste recovery or food marketing, providing free or emergency food or meals, or other ideas. The program will prioritize projects 1) led by Black, Indigenous and People of Color and/or people with lived experience with health injustice, including immigrants and people living with disabilities; and 2) have authentic community ownership.

Additionally, this year’s round takes into account the tremendous impact COVID-19 has had on communities, economies and livelihoods. Applicants with plans to re-open a business that has been closed due to COVID or start or expand an innovative approach to addressing the impacts of COVID on the food system, and meet all of PFJI’s goals and criteria, are also encouraged to apply.

PFJI is open to anyone in the city of Philadelphia. Nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, cooperatives or collectives working on food justice are eligible to apply and can seek up to $100,000 for their project. Applications are due September 20. Learn more about the initiative and how to apply: https://www.reinvestment.com/philadelphiafoodjusticeinitiative/

This project/program was funded in part by the Pa. Department of Health’s Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant.

 

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About Philadelphia Department of Public Health

The mission of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) is to protect and promote the health of all Philadelphians and to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable. Within PDPH, the Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention (CDIP), works to change policies, systems, and environments to make healthy living an easy choice for residents. The goals of our programs are to increase physical activity and healthy eating; reduce tobacco use; lower the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including hypertension and high cholesterol; and to prevent avoidable injuries, with a focus on reducing gun violence. The Division is especially concerned about documenting, understanding, and working to reduce disparities in health.  We value health justice. Our work is guided by a commitment to all people’s health and humanity. We believe:

  • All people have the right to live to their fullest potential.
  • All communities have the right to create environments that allow them to grow and thrive.
  • Public health policy will be developed in full partnership with the community.
  • Knowledge comes in many forms and many places in our society.
  • Progress only happens when we treat people, communities, partners, and staff with care and respect.

About Reinvestment Fund

Reinvestment Fund is a mission-driven financial institution committed to making communities work for all people. We bring financial and analytical tools to partnerships that work to ensure that people in communities across the country have the opportunities they strive for: affordable places to live, access to nutritious food and health care, schools where their children can flourish, and strong, local businesses that support jobs. We use data to understand markets and how transactions can have the most powerful impact, which has consistently earned us the top Aeris rating of AAA for financial strength and four stars for impact management. Our asset and risk management systems have also earned us an A+ rating from S&P. Since our inception in 1985, Reinvestment Fund has provided over $2.4 billion in financing to strengthen neighborhoods, scale social enterprises, and build resilient communities. Learn more at reinvestment.com.

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