Massachusetts is investing nearly $7 million to help more people access fresh, local food while giving farms, fisheries, and community organizations the support they need to keep operating.
According to the Lynn Journal, Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll announced on September 4 awards for 72 recipients across the state, funding projects that include items like commercial kitchens and delivery vehicles.
Here's what to know
Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program offers awards of about $10,000 to $500,000 for equipment and facility improvements tied to producing, processing, storing, and distributing food.
About $3 million of the total will go to food banks and similar groups serving residents facing hunger. The rest will support farmers and fishers as they buy equipment, expand production, and reach more customers.
Two Lynn organizations were included among the fiscal year 2027 recipients. Boys & Girls Club of Lynn received $196,656 for commercial kitchen equipment, while Gregg Neighborhood House was awarded $226,358 for a commercial kitchen.
Ashley Randle, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, said the awards are extending the program's reach.
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"We are especially proud that 60 percent of this year's awardees are first-time grant recipients, representing a diverse cross-section of the food system and ensuring that these grants reach deeper into our communities to bolster food security while supporting local producers," Randle said.
More background
Created in 2020, the grant program focuses on less visible parts of the food chain, such as refrigeration, cold storage, processing tools, and transportation, that shape how food moves through the system.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper emphasized that point, saying, "Cold storage, processing equipment, and other investments may not be the most visible parts of our food system, but they are essential to making it work. These investments help reduce food waste, expand access to locally produced food, and support healthier communities and a healthier environment."
What's being done?
The grants are part of a broader push by Governor Maura Healey's administration to strengthen the state's food system at multiple levels. That includes keeping SNAP available and backing the Healthy Incentives Program, through which SNAP households can buy local fresh fruits and vegetables in ways that also benefit Massachusetts farmers.
The state budget also included a tax credit worth up to $5,000 a year for Massachusetts farmers who donate food to nonprofit distribution groups, food banks, and pantries. The governor's Anti-Hunger Task Force has pointed to additional steps on food insecurity, while the Mass Ready Act puts money into farms, food infrastructure, and the durability of food production in Massachusetts.
Governor Maura Healey said, "No family should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. Local food banks and community organizations are on the front lines of fighting hunger, and they are seeing more people asking for help. These grants will help them purchase the refrigerators, kitchen equipment, and delivery vehicles they need to get more fresh, healthy food to families across Massachusetts."
Where can I learn more?
Massachusetts is investing in the nuts and bolts that help fresh food get from farms and fisheries to the people who need it. Other programs address similar challenges, from food rescue to farmer support and broader food-security efforts.
• In Gallatin County, Montana, funding is redistributing potential food waste to neighbors in need.
• In California, ExtraFood's state-backed food initiative is turning surplus into meals for families.
• Worldwide, food banks rescued billions of meals while keeping waste out of landfills.
• In Ghana, World Bank funding is helping farmers withstand mounting food-supply pressures.
• Across Africa, limited access to nutritious food is driving new nonprofit food-security efforts.
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