Frequently Asked Questions

  1. ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

What is the Massachusetts Food Trust Program (MFTP)?

The Massachusetts Food Trust Program (MFTP) provides loans, grants, and business assistance to increase access to healthy, affordable food in low-income, underserved areas. Beginning with seed funding from the state and administered by nonprofit partners, the MFTP prioritizes businesses selling fresh food grown, caught, or harvested in MA. The program offers financial and technical support to help businesses that increase food access, create jobs, and stimulate economic investment in urban, suburban, and rural communities across the Commonwealth.

Who runs it and when did it start?

The MFTP is overseen and evaluated by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), and administered by the Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF) and Franklin County Community Development Corporation (FCCDC), with support from The Food Trust. The program was established by legislation in 2014. After a multi-year advocacy campaign spearheaded by the Massachusetts Public Health Association, the Baker-Polito Administration included $1 million of seed funding for the program in the Fiscal Year 2018 capital budget. The MFTP officially launched in the fall of 2018.

2. Project eligibility:

  • to high-quality, affordable, nutritious food in under-invested neighborhoods. Examples: fresh produce, meat, dairy, fish, whole and lightly processed foods (such as frozen veggies)

  • including grocery stores, corner stores, coops, farmers markets, food hubs, community kitchens, mobile markets, indoor and outdoor greenhouses, and other infrastructure for gathering, preparing and distributing healthy food for retail in areas that are lower-income and underserved.

  • For details, please refer to this page.

For details, please refer to this page.

What projects are ineligible?

  • Restaurants and cafés,

    Food manufacturers of processed products such as snack bars,

    Food pantries and other emergency food outlets.

  • Description text goes here

  • for project costs already incurred for completed projects

Can an existing grocery store or project apply?

Yes. An existing store or project may be eligible if financing would help it renovate or expand in order to substantially improve its ability to provide access to nutritious food in qualified areas.

How are projects selected for funding?

Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis while funds remain available. When an application is received, program partners will assess the proposed project to see if it meets the eligibility criteria. The program strives for a diversity of projects and project locations: in urban, suburban, and rural areas across the Commonwealth.

Businesses are encouraged to demonstrate how they:

  • promote opportunities for diverse ownership

  • hire employees from surrounding neighborhoods

  • pay living wages, source food from MA farmers

  • increase accessibility for customers through means of public transportation

  • align with the existing goals of local government and residents


    Preference will be given to projects that:

    • build wealth in communities most affected by lack of healthy food access

    • enhance racial, gender, and economic equity

    • support the environment and local food system

3. The Application process:

How does the application process work?

For details, please refer to this page.

Applying for financing from the MFTP program is a two‐step process: eligibility determination and financial approval.

  • First, the applicant must complete the Pre-Application so we can determine whether the proposed project aligns with the objectives of the program. Applicants can complete the Pre-Application here.

  • The Food Trust will then review the pre-application, schedule a phone call with the applicant, and conduct research to determine whether the project and its location meet the eligibility criteria.

  • After discussing with the Mass Food Trust partners, we will notify the applicant if they qualify for funding.

  • Given that their project is eligible, the applicant will receive an Application for Financing to submit for review and underwriting.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible!

4. Loans, grants, and Business Assistance: Which resources are available?:

The MFTP program provides loans, grants, and business assistance.

Financing packages may include loans, grants, and other funding tools on a case-by-case basis to appropriately meet the needs of each project. Each eligible application will be underwritten and assessed for financial viability.

What is a bridge loan , who is it for? (click to see flyer)

What is the range of available loans and grants?

Loans range from $15,000 to $300,000, although the MFTP Administrators may be able to provide additional loans from other sources. Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000.

* Please note that while we offer grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, grants at the top of this range are intended to be used in conjunction with a loan from the Mass Food Trust. Grants in the middle to the lower range are available for projects that don’t require a loan.

How is the amount of grant and/or loan for which my business was approved determined?

The amount and type of financing and grant offered depends on the availability of funds within the program at the time of application, the borrower’s need and ability to fulfill financial obligations, and the project's size and expected impact on the community it serves.

What are the permitted uses of funds?

Grants and loans can be used for equipment and other capital expenses, real estate, tenant improvement and infrastructure, and working capital.

Are there restrictions on how the funds may be spent?

Projects with the following purposes will be considered ineligible.

  • 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

may I apply for both a loan and a grant?

Yes. Where appropriate, some applications will be approved for a grant only, or for both a grant and a loan simultaneously. However, most grant funds will be used to pay for business and technical support to strengthen a business plan or help create financial projections in order for a loan to be approved. Most grants will be linked to a loan.

may I receive business and technical support even if I am not eligible for financing?

Yes. However, grant-funded business and technical support will be prioritized for those businesses where financing in the future is anticipated.

may I receive grant funding for business and technical support and choose my own provider?

Yes, but the MFTP Administrators will need to approve any such provider.