Milwaukee City Wire

The City of Milwaukee has announced the recipients of its most recent round of grant funding awarded via the Fresh Food Access Fund (FFAF). In total, the FFAF will provide $100,000 of support to for-profit and not-for-profit efforts that increase the availability of healthy food options in underserved areas. All recipients are required to match the FFAF grant bringing the total amount leveraged to at least $200,000. 

Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, a champion for the creation of the FFAF, looks forward to seeing the impact these dollars will make throughout the community. “Since its inception, the Fresh Food Access Fund has been about supporting healthier families and neighborhoods in Milwaukee,” he said. “An important part of reducing poverty and health disparities in our community is addressing the food inequalities that exist. The data shows those who lack access to healthy foods are at greater risk for higher rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other health consequences related to diet and nutrition. That is why supporting efforts that are actively working to combat this problem is of great importance.” 

All grant recipients are either located within current USDA-designated food access areas, or have plans to distribute food to residents within those neighborhoods. Additional information about the FFAF can be found by visiting www.milwaukee.gov/FFAF. Grant recipients include: 

FFAF Recipients/ADD ONE

• Dominican Center for Women ($25,000): This grant funding will be used to develop a micro-farm (small-scale, high-yield, sustainably-minded farming) to grow Amani’s AgTech Program to improve food security and economic development in Milwaukee’s Amani neighborhood.
• Fondy Food Center ($25,000): This grant funding will be used to purchase and install refrigerated storage containers at Fondy's office at 2102 W. Fond du Lac Avenue. 
• Friedens Food Pantries ($20,000): This grant funding will be used to purchase and install coolers to expand cold storage, as well as for exterior/interior signage for food centers and necessary food delivery vehicle repairs. 
• Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center ($8,761): This grant funding will be used to purchase and install a storage shed to store harvested produce or to dry harvested herbs and medicines.
• Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee ($1,518): This grant funding will be used to construct garden beds. 
• HoneyBee Sage Wellness & Apothecary ($4,221): This grant funding will be used to install an indoor hydroponic garden. 
• We Got This Community Garden ($15,500): This grant funding will be used to construct two high tunnel hoop house systems, as well as 1,000 square feet of raised beds.