World Central Kitchen on Friday announced the launch of its fourth round of grants as part of its Food Producer Network (FPN). The program helps build resilient local food systems and strengthen food security through direct financial support to farmers, fishers, and small food-related businesses, according to the release.
In this fourth call for applications to the program, WCK said it will also be accepting applications from nonprofit organizations, associations, cooperatives, or other community projects related to food production or distribution. FPN seeks to revitalize its beneficiaries’ operations and grow their capacity to produce, distribute, and sell food at the local level to reduce the heavy reliance on food imports, stated the release.
The grants are available to food-related businesses and organizations that produce or distribute food at a local level and can be used to finance capital improvements such as building greenhouses, walk-in coolers, or storage units as well as purchasing tractors, ice machines, irrigation and rainwater collection systems, and engines for fishing boats. WCK also offers a free and online training program that includes technical training to raise production and business skills classes to enhance commercial operations and increase sales and access to markets. Additionally, WCK assists beneficiaries through its volunteer network, comprised of locals and visitors who provide community service to help partners meet their labor needs.
“With the future uncertain in 2021 for so many businesses, we are grateful for the psychological lift provided by Chef José Andrés and the FPN team who are working on a massive scale to provide meaningful dollar amounts to small producers where so many other entities promised but failed us after Hurricane Maria,” said Christina Frederick of ARTfarm on St Croix. Ms. Frederick and the team at ARTfarm are using WCK’s grant to build a cold storage and processing area out of an insulated container. “Without the grant, we would have been unlikely to invest in these tools and improvements,” she added.
The Food Producer Network was established in 2018 in response to the devastating hurricane season the year prior. Since then, $3.7 million in grants have been disbursed to over 200 food producers affected by natural disasters in the Caribbean and Central America, according to the release. In 2020, to support food security throughout the region, the program’s geographical coverage expanded to include the U.S. Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, and Guatemala.
To date, WCK has invested more than $300,000 through 20 grants in the USVI, with an average grant amount of $15,000, according to the release.
The window to submit grant applications opened on Friday, August 13 and will remain open until Wednesday, October 13, 2021.
For more information or to submit your application, visit wck.org/food-producer-network. For questions regarding the application process, contact WCK at [email protected].
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