Announcing Support for Farmers Markets Applying for FMPP Grants
By: Diana Broadaway and Hannah Fuller Posted On: May 19, 2021
**REMINDER: This year the timeframe for applying to the USDA AMS FMLFPP funding has been shortened to 45 days with applications being accepted now through June 21, 2021.**
As FMLFPP season gets into full swing, Farmers Market Coalition will be offering direct consultation and peer-to-peer support opportunities to farmers market organization FMPP applicants through an initiative sponsored by USDA-AMS.
USDA Sponsored Technical Assistance
In light of the unusually large pool of funding available this year and in an effort to support a wide group of applicants, USDA-AMS has contracted with several local food organizations* (including the CSA Innovation Network, Wallace Center, Farm to Institution New England, Farms to Grow Inc., Local Catch Network, Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network, The Food Corridor, NASDA Foundation, North Carolina A&T State University, the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative, and the Farmers Market Coalition) to help local and regional food system leaders interested in applying or reapplying for 2021 funding under the Local Agriculture Market Program.
FMPP Technical Assistance Opportunities for Farmers Market Organizations
Farmers Market Coalition is offering direct support opportunities for farmers market organizations applying for FMPP this year. Applicants who are interested in any of the opportunities outlined here will need to sign up (via the applications provided) and may be asked to share materials with FMC in an effort to help facilitate the technical assistance described.
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Crafting Outcome Indicators:
Farmers market organization grantees can register for one on one assistance on how to craft the indicators for FMPP. Black, Indigenous, Persons Of Color-led organizations will have priority for these sessions with a limit of 15 total applicants.
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Embedding SNAP Into Proposals:
Farmers market organization grantees can get assistance on how to embed SNAP and matching programs into their proposal. Black, Indigenous, Persons Of Color-led organizations will have priority for these sessions.
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FMPP Scoring Matrix and Evaluation Criteria:
Farmers market organization applicants will learn about the scoring matrix and evaluation criteria outlined in the FMPP RFA with 2-3 experienced FMPP grantees/reviewers. Black, Indigenous, Persons Of Color-led organizations will have priority for these sessions.
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Resubmitting 2020 Proposals:
A small number of farmers market organizations that are revising and resubmitting unfunded 2020 applications can register for “quick consults” led by experienced reviewers/grantees. Black, Indigenous, Persons Of Color-led organizations will have priority for these sessions.
Crafting Outcome Indicators
First, don’t panic!
The goal is to set achievable but measurable goals for your project, both in the review process and in the (hopefully) funded reality of the project span. In evaluating “Achievability” of a proposal, AMS includes six outcome indicators defined as follows within the Project Narrative Form and Instructions:
- Outcome 1: To Increase Consumption of and Access to Locally and Regionally Produced Agricultural Products.
- Outcome 2: To Increase Customers and Sales of Local and Regional Agricultural Products.
- Outcome 3: To Develop New Market Opportunities for Farm and Ranch Operations Serving Local Markets.
- Outcome 4: To Improve the Food Safety of Locally and Regionally Produced Agricultural Products.
- Outcome 5: To Establish or Expand a Local and Regional Food Business Enterprise.
- Outcome 6: (REQUIRED) All applicants must identify at least one additional outcome and indicator based on relevant project activities not covered above.
Here is a recording of a past webinar on the FMLFPP grant process, and another evaluation webinar funded by AMS that covered a lot of evaluation questions.
As part of this opportunity, FMC will offer feedback to a small pool of farmers market organizations applying for FMPP in planning out the required indicators for the grant. This one-on-one support will be limited, with priority given to Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color-led farmers market organizations.
If interested in this opportunity, please complete this brief application.
Embedding SNAP Into Proposals
For this opportunity, farmers market organization grantees can register for a group discussion on how to embed SNAP and nutrition incentive programs into their proposal. Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color-led farmers market organizations will have priority in these sessions led by FMC staff – Farmers Market Support Project Manager Rachael Ward and Technology Research Manager Katie Myhre.
In these sessions, we will have a group discussion that can cover a range of potential grantee questions from emerging EBT technologies, to outreach related to incentives and SNAP programs. Attendees will be split into two groups- those who are incorporating SNAP for the first time and those that are expanding existing SNAP or incentive programs.
These group discussions will be scheduled for the first three Fridays in June – June 4th, 11th, and 18th – at 2:30 EST/1:30pm CST/11:30am PST and each session will be limited to 30 participants. The first two sessions will be more open-ended discussion, so please come with a few questions about your proposal. The third session will cover some frequently asked questions, as well as include some time for more questions in the final week leading up to your proposal being due.
Here are some resources to compliment these sessions:
If interested in this opportunity, please complete this brief application.
FMPP Scoring Matrix and Evaluation Criteria
For this opportunity, FMC will offer a webinar facilitated by 2-3 experienced FMPP grantees/reviewers who will go over the FMLFPP scoring matrix and FMPP evaluation criteria as written in the RFA, generally discussing each section and ending with Q&A. This session will be limited to 20 participants but will be recorded and posted on FMC’s website and shared more broadly, including with the other TA providers involved in this initiative.
The evaluation criteria categories and scoring values can be found on page 27 of the FMPP RFA and are defined as follows:
- Alignment and Intent (25 Points)
- Technical Merit (25 Points)
- Achievability (15 Points)
- Expertise and Partners (25 Points)
- Fiscal Plan and Resources (10 Points)
This event is scheduled for Wednesday, June 9th at 11:30am ET/ 8:30am PT.
Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color-led farmers market organizations will be given priority for registration.
If interested in this opportunity, please complete this brief application to receive an invitation to this event.
Resubmitting 2020 Proposals
As part of this opportunity, farmers market organization applicants who applied for but did not receive FMPP funding in FY2020 and are working to retool their applications and resubmit for FY2021 will be given the opportunity to receive a 1 hour one-on-one consultation. An experienced grantee/reviewer will assist the applicant in assessing the 2020 reviewer comments to retool their proposal for 2021. There will be five slots available for these consultations with Black, Indigenous, Persons of Color-led organizations receiving priority for these sessions.
We expect these consultations to be scheduled for early June. Once participants have been selected, they will be given an opportunity to choose an available time slot with the experienced grantee/reviewer(s) facilitating these sessions.
If interested in this opportunity, please complete this brief application.
Timeline and Registration
Crafting Outcome Indicators:
- Please complete this brief application.
- One on one consultations will be scheduled for up to 15 farmers market organizations in late May and early June.
- Priority will be given to Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color-Led farmers market organizations.
Embedding SNAP into Proposals:
- Please complete this brief application.
- Sessions will be held the first 3 Fridays in June: June 4th, 11th, and 18th – at 2:30 EST/1:30pm CST/11:30am PST
- Limited to 30 participants
- Priority given to Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color-Led farmers market organizations.
FMPP Scoring Matrix and Evaluation Criteria:
- Webinar will be held Wednesday, June 9th at 11:30am ET/ 8:30am PT.
- Please complete this brief application to receive an invitation to this event.
- Limited to 20 participants.
- Priority given to Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color-led farmers market organizations.
- Session will be recorded and shared on the FMC site.
Resubmitting 2020 Proposals:
- Please complete this brief application.
- Consultations will be scheduled for the first and second week in June.
- Currently limited to 5 participants; more slots may be added.
- Priority given to Black, Indigenous, or Persons of Color-led farmers market organizations.
Support Beyond Direct Consultation
- If you have questions about changes to this year’s FMPP/LFPP Requests for Application, please check out our blog A Historic Year for FMLFPP.
- Additional FMLFPP grant resources can be found here.
- FMC will offer direct support to the other entities involved in this initiative on any farmers market-specific issue for 2021 FMLFPP and RFSP grants.
- FMC members may contact FMC directly via the website on specific questions that arise during the grant writing process.
- From now until late June, FMC will be also highlighting partner-led opportunities for FY2021 FMLFPP and RFSP applicants.
