No, EBT equipment and staffing related to EBT transactions are not eligible expenses for this grant. The MN LFPA Program is intended as a hunger relief program where the food is distributed at no cost, without conditions for the end users. Expenses associated with EBT transactions are not eligible because during an EBT transaction the SNAP customers are providing a form of payment for the food rather than receiving the food at no cost.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) offers no-cost, EBT-only equipment to SNAP authorized farmers markets (and direct marketing farmers). Please contact us if you’d like us to direct you to the appropriate contact at DHS.
No, EBT equipment and staffing related to EBT transactions are not eligible expenses for this grant. The MN LFPA Program is intended as a hunger relief program where the food is distributed at no cost, without conditions for the end users. Expenses associated with EBT transactions are not eligible because during an EBT transaction the SNAP customers are providing a form of payment for the food rather than receiving the food at no cost.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) offers no-cost, EBT-only equipment to SNAP authorized farmers markets (and direct marketing farmers). Please contact us if you’d like us to direct you to the appropriate contact at DHS.
Yes, uncooked pasta is considered minimally processed and would be an eligible expense. If the pasta business is located in Minnesota and the ingredients (e.g. flour, eggs) meet the definition of local provided in the Request for Applications (see page 10), the pasta would be considered a Minnesota product for the purposes of meeting the requirement that 70% of food purchased must be sourced from within the geographic boundaries of Minnesota.
Yes, uncooked pasta is considered minimally processed and would be an eligible expense. If the pasta business is located in Minnesota and the ingredients (e.g. flour, eggs) meet the definition of local provided in the Request for Applications (see page 10), the pasta would be considered a Minnesota product for the purposes of meeting the requirement that 70% of food purchased must be sourced from within the geographic boundaries of Minnesota.
The grant asks applicants to identify as a part of their budget how much they will spend in year one versus year two. If the bulk of expenses come in year two, that isn’t a problem.
We believe the reference in the question to “split 50% per annual year” stems from the questions in the application about advance funds. That portion of the application states that an applicant can request advance funding for up to 50% of their total year one budget, and up to 50% in advance funding for their total year 2 budget. It does not mean that an applicant’s budget must be spent 50/50 between years 1 and 2.
The grant asks applicants to identify as a part of their budget how much they will spend in year one versus year two. If the bulk of expenses come in year two, that isn’t a problem.
We believe the reference in the question to “split 50% per annual year” stems from the questions in the application about advance funds. That portion of the application states that an applicant can request advance funding for up to 50% of their total year one budget, and up to 50% in advance funding for their total year 2 budget. It does not mean that an applicant’s budget must be spent 50/50 between years 1 and 2.
No. LFPA funds can only cover short term rentals or leases of equipment, with the expiration or finish date no later than the end of the grant program.
No. LFPA funds can only cover short term rentals or leases of equipment, with the expiration or finish date no later than the end of the grant program.
To understand how many letters of support you need to submit, start by identifying who you are working with and whether they are considered partners or collaborators as per the definitions on page 10 of the Request for Applications. (See page 7 for additional information on partners and collaborators.)
Any individual or entity named as a partner must submit a letter of support. This letter must demonstrate the partner understands their role regarding decision-making and management of the project. If the farmers are partners on the project and will assist with decision-making and project management, each farm business named as a partner must submit a letter of support.
Collaborators are not required to submit letters of support unless there aren’t any socially disadvantaged and emerging farmers included as project partners. If that is the case, then you must include one letter of support from a socially disadvantaged and emerging farmer who you are intending to source food from as a part of the project. An example of a collaborator would be a farmer who is supplying food for a project but not involved in decision-making or project management.
In addition, if you are planning to source more than $10,000 of product from any one farm, that farm would have to submit a letter of support.
To understand how many letters of support you need to submit, start by identifying who you are working with and whether they are considered partners or collaborators as per the definitions on page 10 of the Request for Applications. (See page 7 for additional information on partners and collaborators.)
Any individual or entity named as a partner must submit a letter of support. This letter must demonstrate the partner understands their role regarding decision-making and management of the project. If the farmers are partners on the project and will assist with decision-making and project management, each farm business named as a partner must submit a letter of support.
Collaborators are not required to submit letters of support unless there aren’t any socially disadvantaged and emerging farmers included as project partners. If that is the case, then you must include one letter of support from a socially disadvantaged and emerging farmer who you are intending to source food from as a part of the project. An example of a collaborator would be a farmer who is supplying food for a project but not involved in decision-making or project management.
In addition, if you are planning to source more than $10,000 of product from any one farm, that farm would have to submit a letter of support.
