Supporting the Local Food System with ARPA

The federal coronavirus relief package, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), cites food insecurity as one of the reasons these funds are being distributed, and states that funds may be spent “to respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts.” This funding is an important opportunity for cities and towns to make investments in the food supply chain to help ensure food security and a thriving food and agricultural economy. This document is the first half of a short guide on how the community food system strategies recommended in Farm to Plate resources relate to ARPA funding guidelines. This portion of the document provides a general framework for thinking about potential applicability of ARPA funding, and suggestions for how to begin identifying effective projects. The second part will provide more detailed examples of potential projects and how they relate to ARPA guidelines, and will be released after it is updated for the final ARPA rule.