The Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF) supports projects that strengthen community food security and increase the availability and accessibility of local, nutritious and culturally appropriate food through food production-focused activities for equity-deserving groups, particularly Indigenous and Black communities. The program provides funding through two streams: Small Scale Projects and Large Scale Projects.

Program Objectives

• Support locally-driven projects that improve community food security
• Increase access to local, nutritious and culturally appropriate food
• Support purchase and installation of infrastructure/equipment for food production
• Prioritize projects that predominantly serve equity-deserving groups
• Focus on projects led by or serving Indigenous and Black communities

Program Status

Program ends March 31, 2027. Current intake periods closed.

Program Components

Small Scale Projects:

• Grant funding between $25,000 and $100,000
• Supports projects addressing local food security priorities through purchase and installation of one or a few pieces of infrastructure/equipment in a single community
• Projects must include a production element
• Total funding of $23.5 million over 3 years starting 2024-25
• Past intake period: August 25-September 24, 2025

Large Scale Projects:

• Non-repayable contribution funding between $150,000 and $500,000
• Supports projects with multiple infrastructure/equipment needs
• Projects must include a production element and partnerships (minimum 2) to enhance community food security
• Total funding of $19.2 million over 2 years starting 2025-26
• Past intake period: January 13-February 28, 2025

Eligible Activities

Activities directly related to food production for equity-deserving groups must be prominent feature of project. Examples include:

• Building community garden with irrigation system
• Installing greenhouse
• Establishing food forest
• Equipment to produce food (equipment to grow and/or harvest food)
• Equipment to process, distribute, store and/or transport food (only when project includes food production element)

Ineligible Activities

• Projects not addressing food security for equity-deserving groups
• Projects with no connection to food production
• Major renovations and/or construction
• Purchase of food, consumables, single-use items and gift cards
• Projects resulting in commercial gain or profits (any revenues must be reinvested into organization's food-related programming)