The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will open applications for the Atlantic City Food Security Grants Pilot Program on Tuesday, April 2, at 10:00 a.m., with an application deadline of Wednesday, May 15, at 5:00 p.m. The $5.25 million pilot program is part of a broader initiative to expand food access in Atlantic City.

WHAT:  The Atlantic City Food Security Grants program will provide grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 to fund projects to strengthen food security and food access in Atlantic City. Grants can be used for direct and indirect project costs and may cover 100 percent of the proposed project cost. The pilot program is meant to act as a more immediate response to the food access crisis in Atlantic City and to bring nutritious food options to the city as residents await the construction of a full-fledged supermarket.

Governor Phil Murphy announced the creation of the program last fall, as part of a broader initiative to bring fresh, healthy foods to Atlantic City residents. The Atlantic City/Ventnor Food Desert Community (FDC) is home to 41,000 residents and is the second-most acute in the state.

WHO:    Eligible applicants include for-profit, nonprofit, and government entities that have been in existence for at least two years at the time of applying. Applicants must currently be serving residents in the Atlantic City/Ventnor FDC and must be able to demonstrate existing programming or services related to food access and/or food security.

WHEN:  Applications for the Atlantic City Food Security Grants program will open on Tuesday, April 2, at 10:00 a.m. with an application deadline of Wednesday, May 15, at 5:00 p.m. Grants will be made to the highest-scoring eligible applications, not in a first-come, first-served manner. Interested applicants can click here to learn more and apply.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.