As a new initiative, The City of Pittsburgh has allocated $3 Million Dollars of American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) money to a Food Justice Fund (FJF) addressing issues of food equity and access throughout the City of Pittsburgh. The purpose of the Food Justice Fund is to increase public investment in a just, equitable, and sustainable food system that supports our neighborhoods, local economy, and the environment. This FJF allocation includes $1.1 Million for large-scale investments in Pittsburgh's food system.  

The City of Pittsburgh is seeking proposals from qualified organizations for projects, programs and/or fund distribution that will have a transformational impact on Pittsburgh's food system and/or equitably increase food security for city residents. 

Definitions:

Food security - availability and accessibility of nutritious, high-quality, affordable, culturally relevant and locally sourced food. Please note that supporting existing affordable and small, local food retailers in communities with high levels of social vulnerability and limited access to food can still increase food security, even if their products are considered “less healthy.”  

Food system - the network of people, organizations, physical infrastructure, and natural ecosystems involved in providing food to city residents by growing, processing, storing, aggregating and distributing food, as well as preparing meals, creating value-added food products, and handling food waste.