USDA Grants for Mobile Markets: Programs and Eligibility

USDA offers several grant programs that can fund mobile market development and operations. Understanding the landscape helps both program operators seeking funding and funders looking to leverage federal resources.

Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program

The Community Food Projects program supports community-based food security initiatives, including mobile grocery stores.

Eligible applicants include private nonprofit organizations. Public entities can be partners but not be lead applicants.

Funded activities can include mobile market vehicle acquisition, program development, and operations. Projects must meet community food security goals and involve low-income communities.

Grant amounts typically range from $50,000 to $400,000 over 1 to 4 years. Matching funds of at least dollar-for-dollar are required.

Application timing is typically annual, with deadlines in the spring. Awards are usually announced in the fall.

Strengths: Substantial funding amounts, multi-year support, direct alignment with mobile market missions. Challenges: Competitive process, significant match requirements, extensive reporting.

Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)

FMPP funds direct producer-to-consumer marketing channels, including mobile markets when they feature direct farmer sales.

Eligible applicants include agricultural cooperatives, producer networks, and nonprofit corporations with farmer involvement.

Funded activities can include mobile market development when the market directly sells farmer products. Equipment, operations, and promotion are all eligible.

Grant amounts range from $50,000 to $500,000 over 1 to 3 years. No match is required, though matching contributions strengthen applications.

Application timing is annual, typically with fall deadlines and spring awards.

Best fit: Mobile markets operated by or closely partnering with farmers. It’s less suitable for food bank models without direct farmer sales.

Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP)

GusNIP funds incentive programs that increase fruit and vegetable purchases among SNAP participants, including at mobile produce markets.

Two tracks apply: Nutrition Incentive grants and Produce Prescription grants. Mobile markets can serve as redemption sites for both.

Eligible applicants include government agencies and nonprofits. Mobile market operators can receive funding through partnerships with lead applicants.

Funded activities include SNAP incentive programs (matching SNAP spending on produce) and produce prescription programs (providing vouchers to healthcare-referred patients).

Grant amounts vary widely, from small pilots to multi-million dollar regional initiatives. Multi-year funding is typical.

Best fit: Mobile markets already accepting SNAP that want to add incentive programs, or health systems implementing produce prescriptions.

Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP)

LFPP supports local and regional food enterprises, potentially including mobile market development.

Eligible applicants include nonprofits, agricultural cooperatives, producer networks, local governments, and tribal governments.

Funded activities focus on developing local food business enterprises, which can include mobile market infrastructure when it strengthens community food systems.

Grant amounts range from $25,000 to $500,000 over 1 to 3 years. No match is required.

Best fit: Mobile markets that emphasize local sourcing and position themselves as local food system infrastructure.link to blog about mobile markets as infrastructure

Applying Successfully

USDA grant applications are highly competitive. Successful applications typically accomplish several things.

Demonstrate clear community needs with data and community input. Generic claims about food insecurity are weaker than specific documentation with data demonstrating  gaps in your service area.

Show organizational capacity to execute. Track records, experienced staff, and appropriate infrastructure matter.

Present realistic budgets tied to specific activities. Line items should connect clearly to project goals.

Describe meaningful evaluation plans. USDA wants to know how you'll measure success.

Include strong partnerships. Letters of support from community partners, farmers, health systems, or local government strengthen applications.

Finding Current Information

USDA programs evolve. Funding levels, priorities, and application requirements change annually.

USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) maintains current information on grant programs at nifa.usda.gov. Subscribe to funding opportunity announcements for programs relevant to your work.

For more on funding mobile markets, see: Funding Mobile Markets at Scale.