On Thursday, May 11, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) for a portion of the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI).  A total of $10 million is available for “projects located in food deserts and designed to improve access to healthy, affordable foods.”

In addition to retail outlets (grocery and corner stores), projects can include farmers markets.  Projects can be based in urban or rural communities.

A webinar for those interested in applying will be available starting May 27 at 2pm EST.  To register for the webinar, click here.

The deadline to apply for this funding is July 11, 2011.

The HFFI funds are part of the Community and Economic Development program administered by the Office of Community Services at the Department’s Administration for Children and Families.  The Administration’s larger plans for HFFI funding also include USDA and the Department of the Treasury.

Earlier this week USDA’s Economic Research Service released a Food Desert Locator that could be useful to those contemplating HFFI proposals.