Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), announced grant awards through the Tribal Elder Community Food Box Program to help provide healthy, high-quality, and culturally traditional food to thousands of Tribal Elders and their families across the state.
Amidst rising costs from the grocery store to the gas pump due to President Trump’s reckless trade wars, tariffs, and the war in Iran, the $1.5 million in funding will ensure Wisconsin’s Tribal communities can keep nutritious food on the table, all while supporting the state’s Tribal producers, local farmers, and processors. The funding will be distributed to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and Hunger Task Force Inc., who will work with Tribal community food system leaders to distribute locally sourced food to Tribal food distribution centers. Gov. Evers secured continued funding for the Tribal Elder Food Box Program through a $3 million investment in the 2025-27 Biennial Budget.
2025-27 Biennial Budget
The funding was provided by the 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed into law by Gov. Evers last year, which built upon the governor’s and the Evers Administration’s efforts to support Wisconsin’s agricultural industries and increase food security across the state. In addition to the $3 million investment to continue the Tribal Elder Community Food Box Program, Gov. Evers similarly secured a $10 million investment to continue the Food Security and Wisconsin Products Grant Program, which was created by Gov. Evers in 2020 to connect local nonprofit food assistance programs, such as food pantries, with local producers to keep shelves stocked with nutritious, locally produced food.
A total of $1.5 million will support current efforts to purchase and distribute food to Tribal elders and support Indigenous-based food producers. In receiving these grants, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and Hunger Task Force Inc. must collaborate with and partner on food security efforts with Tribal Nations in Wisconsin. Grant funds must be used to support Tribal citizens and serve multiple Tribal Nations within the state. Purchased food must be distributed to Tribal citizens in Wisconsin at no cost. A minimum of 90 percent of the budget must be spent on food procurement, and a maximum of 10 percent of the budget may be spent on other eligible expenses to implement or evaluate the project.
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