2025 SNAP-Ed Community Growers Grant Program

The Department’s Community Growers Grant supports garden-based nutrition education and food production in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligible communities as a beneficial activity that leads to the economical production and consumption of healthy and fresh food. Community-led growing spaces are collaborative projects on shared open spaces that produce nutritious and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables for local community consumption.

Eligible applicants include:

• Not-for-profit organizations
• Indian tribal organizations
• Local or municipal governments

Eligible projects must provide nutrition education while establishing and/or expanding food-producing gardens and not-for-profit farms serving SNAP-eligible communities.
1. The project site must be located in New York State.
2. All Community Growers projects should serve SNAP-eligible communities. SNAP-eligible communities are defined as:
a. Locations where at least 50% of the population is SNAP-eligible. If you are in a region that does not meet the 50%, please make the case and illustrate how your program will serve low-income and SNAP-eligible individuals and households.

b. “Priority sites” including senior centers, Naturally Occurring Retiring Communities, settlement houses, low-income schools where more than 50% of children are on free and reduced-price lunch, WIC clinics, community health centers, etc. The location of services must be in areas or at site locations where SNAP-eligible clients visit frequently.

3. Funded projects must supply the community they serve with direct education on nutrition. Direct education is an evidence-based, behavior-focused nutrition education and physical activity intervention conducted at the individual and interpersonal levels with an intensity and duration that supports behavior change and allows for active engagement in person or through interactive media.
a. This must include the distribution of USDA-approved nutrition materials. Materials can be found at https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/resources/nutrition-education-materials.
b. Additional activities may include conducting healthy cooking demonstrations, creating and distributing recipes, social media campaigns and activities, etc.
c. Grantees are responsible for self-reporting nutrition education data throughout the grant term. Data must be uploaded to the Program Evaluation and Reporting System (PEARS). For more information on Required Reporting, navigate to the Award Details section.
4. Projects and expenses must be kept separate and distinct from other grant-funded projects and expenses may not overlap with other state grant funding, such as the NYS Urban Farms and Community Gardens program.