Today, Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph, participated in a video conference with 10C, Guelph Food Bank, the Children’s Foundation of Guelph Wellington and Chalmers Community Group and local media where he highlighted an investment of $60,334 to 4 organizations in Guelph under the Local Food Infrastructure Fund first application period.

The Local Food Infrastructure Fund, a five-year, $50-million program under the Food Policy for Canada, and is aimed at community-based, not-for-profit organizations. The mission of the program is to reduce food insecurity by establishing and/or strengthening local food systems in the medium to longer term. The first phase of the program was launched mid-summer of 2019 and closed in November 2019, with 362 projects receiving funding valued at up to $25,000 per project, for a total of $6.6 million. We know that COVID-19 has intensified the food needs of the most vulnerable people but, above all, it is having a major impact on the operation of organizations working to improve food security. 

In April, the Government also launched a separate, $100 million emergency fund under the Local Food Infrastructure Fund to support national, regional, and local organizations across Canada that are able to reach people and communities experiencing food insecurity and who have been impacted by COVID-19. This fund supports the purchase and distribution of food on an emergency basis across the country.

Today’s announcement supports:

• 10 C Shared Spaces with $24,136 to purchase equipment for food production in their community kitchen

• The Guelph Food Bank with $25,000

• The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington with $6,000

• Chalmers Community Services Centre with $5,198

All of whom will purchase equipment for preparation, refrigeration and storage of food. The projects will support our community by providing safe, reliable equipment to ensure the security of food for those who need it most in our city.

Infrastructure and Equipment Improvement Projects aimed at small community-based organizations allow them to improve their infrastructure and purchase equipment that is directly related to the accessibility of healthy, nutritious, and ideally, local foods within our community.

Before COVID hit, Guelph had many groups collaborating on food supply, sharing resources and working together to help vulnerable people in our community. Thanks to our local grocery stores and the people stocking shelves, cleaning the stores, wiping carts, and working on checkout, we have been able to access food throughout the

pandemic.

We all have a new sense of what it means to be “food insecure”. The Local Food Infrastructure Fund will allow us to build capacity in Guelph so that everyone has access to safe, nutritious, and accessible food.

This second call for proposals is now accepting applications. The Fund aims to strengthen food support organizations and help improve access to safe and nutritious food for Canadians at risk.

It will support small and large community-led projects such as urban gardens, community kitchens, food banks, and greenhouses. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until all funding has been allocated. Larger scale projects up to $250,000 will be accepted. The fund can also support a cluster of organizations working together to enhance their regional food systems.

Quotes

"Our Government is committed to helping to improve food security for those who need it most. Through the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, we are making meaningful improvements across Canada in support of access to food. I am pleased to congratulate the first round of recipients in Guelph and to launch the second call for proposals of the program, which opens the door to a cluster of organizations who are ready to enhance their regional food systems, and will help recipients continue their great work.” - Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“It is great to see multiple organizations receiving support to build capacity to provide food for vulnerable people in Guelph. Food is a shared partnership in our community, and these projects will support the collaborative work of unsung heroes working in these amazing organizations supporting our community.” -Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph

"The equipment supported by this funding, including a tilt-skillet, will support both enterprise and food relief solutions to alleviate food security. This also helps 10 Carden (10C) build towards larger collaborative work with local partners." -Julia Grady, Executive Director, 10C Shared Space

“We are thankful for this support, which will enable our continued work in; providing food to our community, expanding agency distribution programs and cross-docking affiliations, and furthering our ability to contribute to a better food system across South Western Ontario as a whole.” -Pauline Cripps, Administrator, Guelph Food Bank

“School closures have had a significant effect on children and youth who rely on our student nutrition programs to fulfil some of their daily nutritional needs. While children are at home, and have not able to access their usual nutrition programs for many months now, our goal is to continue bringing healthy food to hungry minds. With the financial hardships that families are facing right now, we know one of their first priorities is having food on the table. With the funding from the Local Food Infrastructure Fund we are able to purchase much needed equipment to help with this priority” -Emma Rogers, CEO, Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington

"Chalmers is very grateful to receive funding for industrial size fridges which will significantly increase our capacity to store fresh produce and other foods. This will help ensure that our guests receive the healthiest choices of food available.” -Peter Gill, Volunteer Executive Director, Chalmers Community Services Centre 

Quick Facts

362 projects across Canada, totaling $6.6M are being funded through the first round of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, which took place from August to November 2019. Applications under the second call for proposals is now open. Please visit the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website to submit an application.

The Local Food Infrastructure Fund is part of the Food Policy for Canada, supporting our country in meeting its commitments under the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, including to end hunger, promote good health, cut food waste, and encourage sustainable food systems.

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