Many people,  when they first hear about the Community Food Project program, think that it might be a good source of money  to start a community garden, or to help local residents plant home plots.  While such activities may constitute  important elements of a community food project,  it is important to remember that the CFP program funds projects that address several sectors of a food system (i.e. growing, harvesting, distribution, procurement), and that the program's  primary objective is to improve  access to affordable, healthy and culturally appropriate food within low-income populations.

Furthermore, the project needs to be community-based and community-driven, with clear plans for project sustainability, and it needs to demonstrate community support through partnerships and collaborations. Churches, community food banks, schools, senior centers and civic organizations and youth development groups like Girls Scouts or Boys and Girls Clubs are all examples of the types of partnerships that strengthen community food projects.  

A Community Food Project can have many components: education, nutrition, food production and harvesting, developing micro-businesses (such as catering or a value-added product like wild berry jam), transportation and distribution (e.g. lowering the costs of fresh food in remote villages through the development of a cooperative).  It's a program that encourages collaboration and innovative approaches to improving and solving food security issues in low income communities.  

Planning a competitive project that meets your community's needs and fits within the program's guidelines and meets its goals and objectives takes time.  There are small planning grants (up to $25,000) available to help with the planning process.   A first step is to conduct a food assessment in your community: this can be as formal as a written survey or focus groups, or it can be done informally through small meetings and discussions with community leaders and residents.  

The First Nations Development Institute has created a food assessment tool that addresses issues specific to Native American food sovereignty and security.   The Food Sovereignty Assessment Tool, available online, may be easily  adapted to fit your particular village/tribal situation.  Another good source of planning tools is the Community Food Security Coalition: they have a number of publications that can assist people in the early stages of planning a community food project.

The CFP Components page contains information and links to resources that can help you consider what type of components might work in your village community food project.  As you develop a community food project, remember to identify partners that could help, including other villages, tribal consortia, federal agencies such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and your local school district or church.