Food Desert Elimination Grant Program
Food Desert Elimination Grant Program supports organizations and municipalities in developing local food-access plans and practical solutions to reduce food deserts and improve nutrition security in Arkansas.
Funder: Arkansas Department of Health
Due Dates: November 10, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. CST (Application; acceptance may end earlier)
Funding Amounts: Up to $10,000 per award; maximum 10 awards; anticipated period December 1, 2026–June 30, 2027
Summary: Supports community plans and practical solutions to eliminate food deserts and improve access to healthy, affordable foods in Arkansas.
Key Information: The first 10 applications meeting requirements will be accepted, in email receipt order.
Description
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), through the Arkansas Minority Health Commission (ADH-AMHC), offers the Food Desert Elimination Grant Program to help organizations and municipalities develop local food-access solutions. The program seeks to increase community capacity to reduce food deserts and improve nutrition security in Arkansas, where every county has at least one identified food desert.
Projects must develop and work toward implementing comprehensive plans to eliminate food deserts or increase healthy-food access. Supported activities include community needs assessments, feasibility and market studies, financial audits, technical assistance, project-related communications, and transportation. Applicants describe local barriers, their proposed approach, and measurable outcomes such as households served, healthier food availability, reduced grocery travel time, fresh food distributed, SNAP and WIC transactions, affordability, and food-security improvements.
