Request For Proposals Still Being Accepted

This week the DATCP plans to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an estimated $10 million in grants to help nonprofit food banks and pantries purchase Wisconsin food products for distribution to Wisconsin citizens experiencing food insecurity. Prospective applicants should be aware of several key items before the RFP and application are made available next week:

• Applications will require a letter documenting the participants’ commitment to provide a specific Wisconsin food product for purchase by the applicant. For example, if a food bank wishes to purchase fluid milk from a dairy cooperative, the food bank’s grant application must include a letter of commitment from the dairy processor.

• A Wisconsin food product is defined as at least 50 percent of the value of the product or service being attributable to Wisconsin ingredients, production or processing activities.

• If your organization is not eligible to apply for these grants (such as for-profit organizations, Tribal Nations, agricultural commodity groups, etc.) and you need assistance connecting with eligible organizations, please email [email protected] with your contact information. We will distribute that information to food banks statewide.

Grant funds will be distributed through a competitive review process, and will be awarded for costs that are related to COVID-19 and are incurred between March 1, 2020-December 30, 2020. Payments are estimated to be issued beginning in late August.

The COVID-19 Food Security and Wisconsin Products Grants are made possible by funding provided by Governor Tony Evers through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This second round of funding will go toward food banks and pantries to support purchasing Wisconsin food products to distribute to Wisconsin residents that are experiencing food insecurity.

The full RFP, application with instructions, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are expected to be available on Wednesday, July 15 at FoodSecurity.wi.gov. Applications are anticipated to be due to the department two weeks after the publication date of the RFP. You can contact us by sending an email to [email protected].