More Info. on Ontario’s Newly Launched Local Food Fund
Posted: September 18, 2013
Categories: Food in the News / GoodFoodBites
Click image for full details and guidelines on Local Food Fund in PDF form.
As reported earlier this week, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has announced that applications are now open for a new Local Food Fund, which is part of a $30 million investment from the province in support of innovative local food projects over the next three years. This initiative is part of Ontario’s broader food strategy, outlined in the Local Food Act.
The Local Food Fund hopes to support projects that market and promote local food, increase partnerships along the supply chain, and use new and innovative equipment and processes to enchance the supply, availablilty and distribution of locally produced food products.
Further guidelines and details on applying for funding, including eligibility, deadlines, selection process, and application requirements, are available in the official Local Food Fund Guidebook (click image at beginning of post for PDF copy).
The launch of the new Local Food Fund is a positive development for Ontario’s food and farming sector and for Sustain Ontario members, offering support to a broad range of projects that can positively impact Ontario’s food system. Projects as diverse as retrofitting existing farming infrastructure, bringing together small growers to bring their products to market, and developing educational events to foster greater awareness and appreciation of local food are all eligible for support from the Local Food Fund.
The initiative recognizes the growing demand among Ontario residents for food that is fresh, healthy, and locally produced and empowers local businesses, including non-profits and traditional agricultural organizations, to grow their capacity in meeting this demand. Furthermore, the Local Food Fund recognizes that reforming Ontario’s food system into one that is sustainable, ecological, equitable, and financially viable requires a multi-sector approach.
For more information on the Local Food Fund, please consult the application guidelines and the official news release from the Premier announcing the launch. Also, consult Sustain’s Good Food Policies page for resources and information on why a Local Food Act and provincial food strategy is vital to Ontario’s economic prosperity and the health and well-being of its residents.