The Mercer County Office of Food Security announced that it is extending the application deadline for three new grants initiated to tackle the challenges of hunger and to eliminate the barriers that prevent Mercer residents from accessing a stable diet of nutritious food.

On April 1, the new Office of Food Security launched the Food Security Innovation Pilot Grant; the Mercer County Food Hub Pilot Grant; and the Produce, Meat and Dairy Purchasing Pilot Grant for organizations serving food-insecure communities in Mercer County.

“In October 2024, we established the new Office of Food Security to direct funding to agencies, partners, and organizations that are dedicated to fighting hunger in Mercer County,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson. “These grants are an important step, prioritizing key initiatives that will use innovative tactics to drive down food insecurity.”

The Food Security Innovation Pilot Grant will allocate $200,000 to support eligible nonprofits as they introduce innovative technology-driven and consumer-focused strategies to improve food access, with a particular focus on eliminating food deserts.

The Mercer County Food Hub Pilot Grant will award a single grant of $250,000 to a single nonprofit to support the establishment of a Food Hub. This centralized facility will streamline the distribution of fresh and nutritious foods while partnering with social service providers to connect residents with comprehensive wrap-around services. The Food Hub can increase efficiency by reducing duplicative efforts and helping to coordinate the work of food security nonprofits throughout The County.

The Produce, Meat, and Dairy Purchasing Pilot Grant will provide $205,000 in direct financial assistance to established food pantries, non-profits, and community organizations to purchase and distribute essential fresh nutrient-rich foods to Mercer County residents in need.

Proposals for all the grant programs are due by noon on April 22. Information for the proposals can be found on the County’s website at https://www.mercercounty.org/departments/purchasing/bidding-opportunities

These three grants were made possible through Federal funds distributed under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). The programs further the purpose of ARPA by addressing systemic barriers to equitable food access and mitigating economic and public health challenges stemming from the Covid-19 Pandemic.

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