Micro-grants available for local food projects
The Liberty Prairie Foundation is seeking requests for proposals for its Lake County Community Food Systems micro-grant program.
This program provides grants ranging from $500 to $2,500 to support projects that will make local, fresh food more accessible and affordable. The foundation will fund projects in Lake County that are using food as a catalyst for change, whether by relief efforts, entrepreneurial opportunities, education and more.
Grant funds through this program may be used broadly for staff costs, equipment, infrastructure and other related activities. A total of $10,000 in funding is available through this initiative.
Examples of projects include, but are not limited to: growth or distribution of produce in an underserved community, community gardens, season extension, mobile pantries, agriculture-related job training programs, entrepreneurship and nutrition education initiatives. Eligible groups must be a 501c(3) organization within Lake County.
"The foundation is committed to providing resources to community groups that are doing such important work across the county to feed vulnerable residents, educate people about good food, and that are engaged in community and economic development through food and agriculture," said Brad Leibov, Liberty Prairie Foundation president and CEO.
In 2012, the Liberty Prairie Foundation launched the Waukegan Local Food Project to assess what is happening on the ground in communities in the county. Staff provided technical assistance targeted to Waukegan organizations pursuing local food projects and gained insight into the opportunities, challenges, and needs of community groups.
The foundation continues to explore and pilot fresh food distribution programs to increase the amount of healthy food available to communities with low access. The foundation is increasingly engaged in supporting grass-roots projects and will provide resources through this initiative to help organizations build community through food.
The deadline to apply is July 1. For information about the micro-grant program, visit www.libertyprairie.org or contact Emily Weber, program associate, at Emily@libertyprairie.org.
The Liberty Prairie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation in Grayslake. Since 1993 it has provided leadership and financial support for sustainable local food system development, social entrepreneurship, conservation, environmental education and civic engagement.
The foundation is headquartered at and owns the Prairie Crossing Farm, a working organic farm inside Prairie Crossing. Visit www.libertyprairie.org for details.