Food Recovery Hub Grant Program
Application Deadline June 1, 2023, 11:59 PM
Number of Awards Anticipated Approximately 1-3 awards
Total Amount Available $190,000.00 
Background

Under Senate Bill 1383, edible food generators (EFGs) such as food wholesalers, supermarkets, and restaurants, must donate surplus food to be recovered for human consumption. This increased donation necessitates expanded capacity at food recovery organizations (FROs), food recovery services (FRSs), food pantries and feeding sites in order to receive and manage the additional food. Additionally, large edible food donations can be challenging for non-profits to accept and redistribute in manageable quantities. Practices for safe food handling and proper disposal of food waste must be implemented. To meet existing and future requirements, coordinated efforts that allow for collaborative solutions for additional resources to collect, transport, and store surplus food are needed.

Opportunity

The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) seeks to award funding to assist in the development of food recovery hubs (Hubs) that will expand regional food recovery efforts to recover additional surplus food for distribution and/or redistribution to smaller organizations and community members facing food insecurity. 

The SGVCOG anticipates developing 1-3 surplus food redistribution Hubs. The objective is to facilitate recovery of food from EFGs in the participating cities, and provide food to people who live in, and nearby, those cities. Ultimately the entire region would have access to the Hubs, either upon launch or future expansion, with increased development of networks that redistribute surplus food throughout the San Gabriel Valley (SGV).

The cities participating in the Hub project are grouped into the following regions:

Region 1:  La Cañada-Flintridge, Monterey Park and San Gabriel

Region 2:  Baldwin Park, Duarte, Irwindale, and Monrovia

Region 3:  Azusa, Covina and Glendora

Additional cities may join in the near future.
Minimum Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a grant, applicants must meet the minimum mandatory requirements (MMR):

●       Food recovery organization (FRO) or food recovery service (FRS) currently collecting, or with the ability to collect food from edible food generators (EFGs) in at least one of the regions of the SGV (as noted in the Opportunity section), and

●       Tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code OR be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) OR partner with a 501(c)(3) as the lead applicant, and

●       Experience in surplus food recovery/redistribution, and

●       Commitment to partner with the SGVCOG, local FROs/FRSs, pantries and feeding sites to support existing programs and potential connections to other related programs. 

Eligible Activities

Applicants must demonstrate their ability to engage in activities that foster the creation and management of a Hub. For the purposes of this grant, a Hub may consist of, but is not limited to:

●       A physical storage location (such as warehouse), inclusive of refrigerated and unrefrigerated storage

●       Multiple physical locations linked by shared technology and managed either by the same or different non-profits in partnership

●       A coordination and/or transportation service that matches pantries to available food and transports that food directly from EFGs to dispersed locations

Regardless of the model, a Hub’s activities should enable the efficient redistribution of surplus food and build/enhance a regional system.

Required Activities

●       Increase the capacity to recover edible food

●       Increase the recovery of currently disposed edible food

●       Create and manage a Hub as identified in the “Eligible Activities” above

●       Expand existing, and forge new, relationships with local EFGs

●       Execute written contracts with EFGs

●       Collect, weigh (and store) incoming edible food (e.g.  packaged, prepared and/or fresh food)

●       Record the weight of food collected specific to the Hub and report to jurisdictions in compliance with SB 1383 requirements.

●       Accept requests from, provide food to, and collaborate with smaller organizations

●       Accept large donations and divide into manageable portions for distribution 

●       Promote resource-sharing and collaboration with other organizations

●       Facilitate diversion from landfills of spoiled/inedible food

Optional Activities

●       Help small non-profits make physical and technological improvements that allow them to accept, store, and distribute more food safely, with less food wasted

●       Feed community members directly

●       Recover prepared food
Eligible Use of Funds

Funds must be allocated for the creation of one or more hubs. Allowable uses of funds include, but are not limited to:

●       Equipment and Supplies (i.e., pallet jack, refrigeration, shelving, vehicles)

●       Facility (i.e., improvements)

●       Staff Salaries (up to 50% of grant award)

●       Technology (i.e., computers, software, apps)

●       Training (i.e., safe food handling certifications)

Ineligible Use of Funds

●       Purchase of food

●       Grant writing

●       Purchase or lease of land or buildings

Dates and Deadlines

Request for Proposals Announced: May 2, 2023
Optional Virtual Informational Session: May 10, 2023 at 11 AM
Questions due to SGVCOG: May 16, 2023 by 5 PM
Answers to Questions: May 19, 2023
Proposals Due: June 1, 2023 by 11:59 PM
Awardees Announced: Mid-June 2023 (Tentative)
Contract/Notice to Proceed: July 2023 (Tentative)
Eligible Program Cost Expended:  March 31, 2024
 

How To Apply

The SGVCOG held an informational session on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 11 AM. Click Here to view the recorded informational session. 

●       You may submit questions not covered during the session by emailing Mackenzie Bolger at mbolger@sgvcog.org. 

Application Instructions

●       Answers to all application questions are required for consideration.

●       Joint Applications may be submitted if multiple organizations believe a partnership will enhance their ability to provide regional coverage. If submitting jointly, a lead applicant must be specified.

●       Submit applications and supporting documents using SurveyMonkey. All supporting documents should be submitted as attachments.

●       Once your application has been submitted, you may request a copy of your responses.

Project Review Process

SGVCOG staff will review submitted applications in accordance with the application criteria, determine applicant’s ability to create and potentially sustain and replicate a Hub that increases regional surplus food redistribution.

Scoring Criteria

 Organization Information = 10 points available
 Existing Food Redistribution Program = 30 points available
 Hub Vision = 30 points available
 Alignment with Project Objectives/Outcomes = 30 points available
 
Total of 100 points available
About San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG)

The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) is a regional government planning agency that aims to maximize the quality of life in the San Gabriel Valley. We are a joint powers authority that is consisted of 31 incorporated cities, unincorporated communities in Los Angeles County Supervisorial Districts 1, and 5, and three San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water Districts (San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, Three Valleys Municipal Water District, and Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District).

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