Fresh Food Matters

IGI Equipment Grant Information

View the presentation by clicking below!

Congratulations to our local awardee and HEAL Food System partner, Midwest Food Bank and their partner recipients!

Governor JB Pritzker announced $28.8 million in grant funding to provide free locally produced food to vulnerable communities. The grants are being awarded to organizations in Illinois in partnership with the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS).

The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement (LFPA) will allow the State of Illinois to purchase food directly from socially disadvantaged farmers at fair market value. Food will then be distributed by providers, including food banks, farming collaboratives, and other non-profits, to communities in need at no cost.

Claire Crone from Sophia’s Kitchen gets a special shout out for a wonderful speech!

For more information: https://www.illinois.gov/news/press-release.29693.html

Pictured: Speakers at the press conference; including Gov. Pritzker, the Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the Director of the Illinois Department of Human Services

Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs Grocery Co-Op Opening

IL Institute of Rural Affairs Grocery Co-Ops

Elizabeth SchaibergerJuly 5, 2023

Creating Local Food Communities Throughout Illinois

Becca CottrellJuly 8, 2022

500 in 5 Community Conversations

After months of researching and benchmarking with national food council groups, we were strongly encouraged to begin community engagement in eliciting feedback and suggestions in order to create meaningful strategies in meeting the needs of the region. The 500 in 5 project serves as the foundation of data on which the RFFC will derive its future project work and support for key initiatives in the region.

Shannon HalfordAugust 4, 2017