PA FFFI – The Food Trust

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Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative

The application is now open. The deadline to apply is September 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Explore program materials and apply below.

A statewide public-private financing program administered by The Food Trust, PA FFFI helps business owners open or expand healthy grocery outlets in communities throughout the commonwealth.

Overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the PA FFFI is administered by The Food Trust in partnership with Pennsylvania-based community development financial institutions (CDFIs).

The program provides grants and technical assistance to nonprofit, for-profit and cooperative food businesses that help increase access to healthy, affordable food and improve economic opportunities for low- to moderate-income residents of urban, suburban and rural areas of Pennsylvania. Grant awards will range from $5,000 – $200,000. Please refer to the Request for Applications (RFA) for more details.

Check out previous grantee stories for examples of successful projects.

2026 PROGRAM MATERIALS

Request for Applications – Solicitud de propuestas

Program Flier – Hoja de folleto del programa

Have questions? Register here for a webinar on July 15, 2026 at 2pm.

VIEW AND SUBMIT APPLICATION HERE

AM I ELIGIBLE?

Use this checklist to see if your business meets the basic eligibility criteria.

If you answered yes to all of the above, you may be eligible for funding! Fill out the form below to stay in touch and receive application information.

Questions? Please email pafffi@thefoodtrust.org.

Please be aware that two separate programs share the name Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative. The Food Trust’s PA Fresh Food Financing Initiative (PA FFFI) is a distinct program, separate from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s PA Fresh Food Financing Initiative.

This page is for The Food Trust’s PA FFFI.

The Food Trust’s PA FFFI: Originally launched in 2004 and recapitalized in 2018 by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), this program focuses on enhancing healthy food access and promoting economic development by providing grants and loans to food retailers in communities across Pennsylvania. To learn more about The Food Trust and our Healthy Food Financing Initiatives, please explore this website.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s PA Fresh Food Financing Initiative: Initially funded during the COVID-19 pandemic and relaunched in 2024 with a $4 million investment, this program aims to strengthen local food systems and increase market opportunities for Pennsylvania farmers. It provides grants to businesses working to expand access to fresh food across the state. For details, visit their website here.

While both initiatives share similar goals, they are independently managed and have distinct eligibility criteria, application processes, funding sources, and deadlines. If you have any questions or need assistance determining which program suits your needs, please contact us at pafffi@thefoodtrust.org.

Looking for another grant opportunity?

Reinvestment Fund, a partner of The Food Trust on the PA FFFI, is administering the HFFI Food Access and Retail Expansion (FARE) Fund! Funded by USDA, FARE Fund provides grants, loans, and technical assistance to new and expanding food retailers and post-harvest food retail supply chain businesses. This includes but is not limited to grocers, distributors, aggregators and wholesalers. Check out the FARE Fund website for more information and to take an eligibility screener.

Not sure whether to apply? Reach out to The Food Trust staff at communityconnector@investinginfood.com for support!