Eligibility Criteria
expanding access
one pint at a time
To Be Eligible to apply for an MFTP Loan, Grant or Business Assistance, the Projects must:
Expand food access in underserved neighborhoods
Fit local community needs
Increase access to affordable healthy food
Click here to access a downloadable PDF version of these criteria
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Financing may be used for the development, renovation, or expansion of an eligible business.
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Audits or design work for projects without clear linkage to a future loan.
General operations and maintenance expenses.
Reimbursement for project costs already incurred for completed projects.
The program is not intended for emergency food projects.
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Grocery stores
Corner stores
Food co-ops open to the public without requiring membership
Farmers markets and mobile markets
Food hubs, community kitchens, indoor and outdoor greenhouses, and other infrastructure for gathering, preparing, and distributing healthy food for retail in areas that are low-and-moderate income (LMI) and underserved.
Criteria to apply:
Operate and provide service in Massachusetts
Provide or support the availability of high-quality, affordable, and nutritious food in an area where there is limited access to it
Serve a majority of customers from areas designated as USDA food deserts and/or areas of high poverty, high unemployment, or low-and-moderate incomes, as defined by the CDFI Fund as “Investment Areas”
Demonstrate engagement and support from residents and a commitment to bringing a positive economic and social impact to the community*
Accept federal and state benefits (e.g. SNAP, WIC, or HIP) . Some exceptions may apply.
Include an experienced manager on the team, ideally with three or more years managing a healthy food project
Work with other state and local programs as much as possible
Be financially sustainable
Note: Applicants may be for-profit, non-profit, or cooperative entities.
Click here to access a downloadable PDF of the criteria.
* Funded projects will be required to submit an impact statement to the program each year to describe the positive economic and social impact that the project is providing the community through job training and employment practices, ownership by women and people of color, information on the veteran status of ownership and full-time employees and other factors. Failure to show positive economic and social impact may be a cause for discontinuing financial assistance to the recipient.
Coastal Foodshed, 2019 awardee
Preferences will be given to projects that:
Build wealth within communities most affected by lack of healthy food access,
Enhance equity: racial, gender, and economic,
Contribute to Massachusetts’ local food system,
Benefit our environment
Consideration will be given to applicants who may not have previously received funding from other state programs, such as MDAR’s Food Ventures Program, in order to broaden access to the funds.
Funding decisions will also be reflective of the desire for diversity in projects and places (urban, suburban, and rural areas) across the Commonwealth.
Applicants are Encouraged to Demonstrate the Following:
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and where possible, increases business opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises, Women Business Enterprises, Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises, Veteran Business Enterprises, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Business Enterprises; and Disability-Owned Business Enterprises.
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Hire employees from the surrounding neighborhoods.
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Please refer to the MIT Living Wage Calculator for your region.
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Source from Massachusetts based and owned farms, fisheries, producers.
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Customers can access the establishment by public transit.
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A demonstrated history of including local communities and customers into its operations and business development.
Seeds of Change, 2019 awardee
MFTP Financing Products:
The MFTP provides flexible, customized financing for costs associated with opening or expanding eligible food-access businesses. The amount and type of financing offered depends on 1. the availability of funds within the program at the time of application, 2. the need of the borrower, and 3. the size and expected impact of the project.
Financing packages may include loans, grants, and other funding tools. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis to appropriately meet the needs of each project. Applications deemed eligible will be underwritten and assessed for reasonableness of projections, capacity to adequately service debt payments, and collateral. The CDFI Administrators are responsible for the credit analysis and final underwriting decisions of the MFTP.
MFTP Loan Criteria:
Loan amounts from MFTP range from $15,000 to $300,000 (administrators may have access to additional funds to supplement MFTP)
Collateral availability, which may include business and/or personal assets and/or guarantees
Three years of operating history is preferred. Start-up financing may be considered when the owner or management team has strong industry experience
Profitable or can demonstrate a path to profitability within 18 months
Strong, experienced management team
Able to provide projections for at least three years including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flows
MFTP Grant Criteria:
Grant amounts from $5,000 to $25,000. In the case of large projects (i.e. a new grocery store), larger grants may be considered on a case-by-case basis
Three years of operating history is preferred—start-up financing may be considered when the owner or management team has strong industry experience
Profitable or can demonstrate a path to profitability within 18 months
Strong, experienced management team
* Please note that while we offer grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, grants toward the top of this range are intended to be used in conjunction with a loan from the Mass Food Trust. Grants in the middle and lower range are available for projects and do not require a loan component.