The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board approved more than $9.3 million in grant awards to 23 organizations through the second round of the Food Equity and Economic Development in New Jersey (FEED NJ) Pilot Program.
This milestone completes the allocation of the $30 million program, which aims to strengthen food security infrastructure across the state’s 50 designated Food Desert Communities (FDCs). This second round follows an initial $20.6 million awarded to 50 organizations in November, totaling 73 awardees statewide.
The FEED NJ program primarily focuses on the state’s 14 most acute Food Desert Communities, which are home to over 567,000 residents across seven counties. The 23 latest grant recipients, receiving up to $500,000 each, will spearhead projects in high-need areas including:
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Trenton and Camden
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Newark and New Brunswick
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Paterson and Passaic City
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Bridgeton and Salem City
“The funding approved today will support a range of projects, including grocery delivery and urban farming programs, empowering local partners and providing lasting support to communities that need it most,” NJEDA Acting CEO Mary Maples said.
The grant awards support a diverse array of community-driven initiatives designed to be sustainable and scalable. Key projects include:
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Mobile Markets and Food Pantries: Creating or expanding physical locations and mobile units to distribute fresh produce.
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Urban Farming: Partnering with local farmers and supporting urban agriculture to bring locally grown food directly to residents.
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Meal Recovery & Infrastructure: Strengthening meal recovery programs and purchasing refrigerated delivery vehicles to ensure the safe transport of healthy food.
Tara Colton, NJEDA chief economic security officer, noted that access to affordable, fresh food is essential for both “economic stability and social well-being.” By empowering nonprofits and private partners, the program aims to build a more resilient food system.
The FEED NJ program is part of the NJEDA’s comprehensive toolkit to combat hunger, which also includes the Food Security Planning Grant Program and the Food Desert Relief Supermarket Tax Credit. This initiative is particularly timely, as officials noted that nearly 70% of Americans reported struggling to afford groceries in recent surveys.
“These grants will help community feeding organizations expand their programs and more effectively address hunger needs in neighborhoods that lack consistent, reliable and affordable access to nutritious food,” Department of Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman said.
The full list of all 73 FEED NJ awardees is available on the NJEDA’s official website.
