Data Needed for Healthy Food Access Funding Proposals

Both the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund have announced opportunities for healthy food access funding made possible in coordination with the federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative.  CDFIs and CDCs nationwide who may be hard at work on these proposals should know that they can turn to PolicyMap for all of the data that both programs ask applicants to consider.

Develop your plan and make your argument for funds using food access, consumption and diet-related health indicators and food assistance program participation. Explore the ERS/USDA food desert designated locations and TRF’s limited supermarket access (LSA) areas – both among the ways that the CDFI Fund suggests applicants show that resources go at least 75% to areas of most need.

The CDFI Fund asks proposals to focus on counties with persistent poverty.  PolicyMap has recently added that data, too (to the Federal Guidelines tab).

Focus your proposal on particular places and run PolicyMap’s Community Profile reports to answer many of the questions regarding the target markets.

If you are a subscriber and need help overlaying this data to focus your strategies, sign up for one of the upcoming training sessions or contact us.