New School Food Infrastructure Fund and Renewed Local Food Infrastructure Fund Announced

On September 6, 2024, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced the launch of the new School Food Infrastructure Fund (SFIF) and the next phase of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF) in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. This initiative is part of a $62.9 million allocation from Budget 2024 aimed at supporting community-based not-for-profit organizations to enhance food security across Canada.

The SFIF, with a budget of $20.2 million, will assist not-for-profit organizations in investing in infrastructure and equipment for school food programming. Applications for this fund will be accepted from noon EST on September 6, 2024, until October 4, 2024.

The LFIF will continue to enhance community food security through two components:

• Small Scale Projects: Funding between $25,000 and $100,000 will be available for projects like irrigation systems for community gardens. Applications for the first intake will be open from October 1 to October 31, 2024.
• Large Scale Projects: Funding between $150,000 and $500,000 will support larger initiatives that address multiple infrastructure needs. Applications for this component will be accepted from January 13 to February 28, 2025.

This funding aims to improve access to local, healthy, and culturally appropriate foods, with a focus on equity-deserving groups within communities.