This project would not be eligible for MN LFPA funding. Projects funded through the MN LFPA are required to spend a minimum of 61% of their total budget on food procurement costs, meaning the purchasing of eligible local food items. Production-related expenses are not eligible. Because the milk is not being purchased, the project would not be eligible.
Based on the information shared, the produce and herbs purchased for samples would not be an eligible expense. The MN LFPA Program is intended as a hunger relief program. From what was described, the samples would be used to encourage paid sales between farmers and farmers market customers. Within the context of the MN LFPA program, food must be distributed at no cost and be distributed primarily (at least 75%) to underserved communities. Although the samples are free, their purpose as a motivator for financial transactions with customers would disqualify the local ingredients used from being an eligible MN LFPA expense.
MN LFPA funds would also not be able to be used to compensate chefs at a standalone rate for their food preparation services. This would be true even if the samples were being used to promote foods that were being distributed at no cost. This is because production-related expenses are not eligible.
Based on the information shared, the produce and herbs purchased for samples would not be an eligible expense. The MN LFPA Program is intended as a hunger relief program. From what was described, the samples would be used to encourage paid sales between farmers and farmers market customers. Within the context of the MN LFPA program, food must be distributed at no cost and be distributed primarily (at least 75%) to underserved communities. Although the samples are free, their purpose as a motivator for financial transactions with customers would disqualify the local ingredients used from being an eligible MN LFPA expense.
MN LFPA funds would also not be able to be used to compensate chefs at a standalone rate for their food preparation services. This would be true even if the samples were being used to promote foods that were being distributed at no cost. This is because production-related expenses are not eligible.
A new required text field has been added within the "Contact Information" section of the online application, for applicants to provide their Unique Entity IDs. Unique Entity IDs are assigned by the federal System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and are a 12-character alphanumeric value. The text field that originally asked for the applicant's Unique Entity ID was not formatted to accept alphanumeric values. That original text field is still included in the application but is no longer a required question and should be left blank.
A new required text field has been added within the "Contact Information" section of the online application, for applicants to provide their Unique Entity IDs. Unique Entity IDs are assigned by the federal System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and are a 12-character alphanumeric value. The text field that originally asked for the applicant's Unique Entity ID was not formatted to accept alphanumeric values. That original text field is still included in the application but is no longer a required question and should be left blank.
The language regarding legal eligibility for applicants that are applying as individuals has been updated. As noted in version 2.0 of the Request for Applications, if applying as an individual, the applicant must not have been convicted of a criminal offense such as theft, embezzlement, or forgery related to a federal grant agreement within the past three years, or to a state grant agreement at any point in time.
In the online application, applicants that have indicated in the "Eligibility" section that they are applying as an individual are now asked to confirm if the following statement is true:
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If applying as an individual, I attest that I have not been convicted of a criminal offense such as theft, embezzlement, or forgery related to a federal grant agreement within the past three years, or to a state grant agreement at any point in time.
The language regarding legal eligibility for applicants that are applying as individuals has been updated. As noted in version 2.0 of the Request for Applications, if applying as an individual, the applicant must not have been convicted of a criminal offense such as theft, embezzlement, or forgery related to a federal grant agreement within the past three years, or to a state grant agreement at any point in time.
In the online application, applicants that have indicated in the "Eligibility" section that they are applying as an individual are now asked to confirm if the following statement is true:
-
If applying as an individual, I attest that I have not been convicted of a criminal offense such as theft, embezzlement, or forgery related to a federal grant agreement within the past three years, or to a state grant agreement at any point in time.
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.