Molly Notarianni Growth Grant
2024 Application Process
Thank you for your interest in the 2024 Molly Notarianni Growth Grant program. Farmers Market Fund (FMF) seeks to make local food more available to all Oregonians by growing the number of farmers markets in Oregon that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and offer SNAP matching incentive programs such as Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) to their customers. In partnership with Oregon Farmers Markets Association (OFMA), we are expanding our Molly Notarianni Growth Grant program in 2024 to support all farmers markets in offering SNAP benefit redemption, as well as related SNAP incentive programs. This also applies to markets who are currently SNAP authorized or plan to apply for their FNS authorization so as to accept SNAP.
Before applying, applicants should closely review the Request for Applications (RFA). This document provides an overview of the program and its purpose, outlines eligibility requirements and available funds, lists allowable and unallowable expenses, gives evaluation criteria for applications, and includes a grant timeline. Applicants will need to understand the information in the RFA before applying and so are strongly encouraged to read through the RFA in advance of submitting their application.
The RFA can be downloaded as a PDF via the link above or can be reviewed as an embedded document at the bottom of this page.
Applicant Eligibility
All Oregon farmers markets that plan to accept SNAP as a form of payment, or that plan to apply for SNAP authorization during the 2024 calendar year are eligible to apply for this funding so long as they meet the following criteria:
Manage the fiscal operations of one or more active farmers markets in Oregon
Operate a farmers market with fewer than 80 vendors on at least one market day during the 2024 calendar year
Actively offer SNAP benefit redemption during the 2024 calendar year -or- plan to begin the process of applying for Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) authorization to offer SNAP benefit redemption
Are compliant with all SNAP program requirements, tracking, and policies as outlined by FNS -if- the market is currently accepting SNAP benefit redemptions
If you received a 2023 Growth Grant award and/or participated in the 2023 DUFB season, you have completed your 2023 DUFB reconciliation and submitted your Growth Grant final report and all required financial documentation
In addition, any applicant market with an associated nonprofit (i.e. the market is a nonprofit or a nonprofit organization manages the market's finances) must use the nonprofit as the organization receiving funds.
Each participating organization is eligible to apply for only one Growth Grant, regardless of how many farmers markets that organization runs. Organizations with multiple markets may split their funding across markets in whatever way they deem appropriate, so long as each market meets the above criteria. If an organization manages a mix of both eligible and ineligible markets, awardee agrees to expend funds only in support of eligible markets.
If you have questions or concerns about these eligibility criteria, please contact Joel Caris by email at growthgrant@farmersmarketfund.org or by phone at 503-360-2807.
How to Apply
All markets that have submitted a 2024 winter or main season Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) incentive funding application will be emailed an invitation from FMF to apply for a Growth Grant with a unique link to a partially pre-filled application to make the process easier. Otherwise, any market may access the online application form directly here, including eligible markets not participating in Double Up Food Bucks. The deadline for submission is 11:59pm PST on March 25, 2024.
To help markets in preparing to apply, a generic copy of the application can be viewed here. However, please use the customized link in your market's invitation or the general application link above to submit your request. If you would like to submit an application by mail, we can supply you with a paper copy; please request one by emailing AR Kittleson Spring, Growth Grant and Administrative Coordinator, at AR@farmersmarketfund.org.
New This Year
There are some significant differences with the Growth Grant program this year, primarily around eligibility and funding. Primary differences include:
Eligibility: Any Oregon farmers market accepting SNAP as a form of payment in 2024 or planning to apply for SNAP authorization during the 2024 calendar year is eligible for Growth Grant funding. Markets do not have to participate in Double Up Food Bucks to be eligible for funding.
Allowable Expenses: Markets may now use funds toward allowable expenses related to any SNAP matching incentive program, not just Double Up Food Bucks, so long as the incentive is triggered by a SNAP transaction. Please see the RFA for further details, as well as for full details on allowable and unallowable expenses.
Available Funding and Request Structure: In addition to expanded eligibility, this year's Growth Grant program has more available funding, as well. Awards now start at $1,000 and go as high as $6,500. The funding has been split into two separate sections, as well: a noncompetitive Fixed Funding section and an optional, competitive Supplemental Funding section. Please see the RFA for details and a complete explanation.
Information Session Webinar with Q&A
A Growth Grant information session webinar was held Thursday, March 7th, from 12-1pm. This webinar featured an in depth review of the Request for Applications, as well as a walk through for the online application form. Click here to view a recording of the webinar.
Request for Applications Embedded Document
2024 Growth Grant RFA.pdf