The Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), is a reimbursable grant program designed to help nonprofit organizations reduce food waste by acquiring equipment to recover and distribute food that would otherwise be discarded. The grant aims to support registered nonprofits in Pennsylvania by providing funds to purchase items such as refrigerators, freezers, trucks, and other equipment essential for safely collecting and redistributing fresh and processed foodstuffs. The ultimate goal is to decrease the volume of food entering the waste stream and enhance food recovery efforts across the state.

The application period for the current grant cycle runs from October 12, 2024, to February 28, 2025, with submissions required through the Single Application for Assistance online portal. Paper or faxed applications are not accepted. Applicants must complete a mandatory pre-application conference with a DEP Regional Recycling Coordinator and submit a pre-application document before applying. Organizations requesting $10,000 or more are also required to upload a Worker Protection Form in compliance with Executive Order 2021-06, which emphasizes worker protection and investment.

Special consideration is given to projects serving Environmental Justice (EJ) areas, which are defined as regions with higher pollution burdens and vulnerable populations based on demographic and environmental data. Applicants can identify EJ areas using the PennEnviroScreen tool provided by DEP, and grants targeting these communities may receive priority during the evaluation process.

Successful applicants must be registered as SAP vendors with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to receive funds. If not already registered, nonprofits must complete the vendor registration process through the Office of the Budget's website. To ensure prompt payment, organizations are encouraged to enroll in the PA Electronic Payment Program (PEPP) for direct deposit.

The Food Recovery Infrastructure Grant represents a significant opportunity for nonprofits to improve food recovery operations, benefiting both the environment and communities facing food insecurity. Interested organizations should thoroughly review the application instructions and ensure compliance with all pre-application requirements to maximize their chances of receiving funding. For assistance, applicants can contact the DEP's customer service or the program coordinator.