Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative

Established in 2024 through a partnership with the Auburn University Hunger Solutions Institute, Hope Enterprise Corporation, and Wright Food Solutions, Delta HFFI is committed to building a stronger, more resilient food system across the Delta region of the United States (US). The program is guided by three goals:

  1. Improve access to fresh, healthy, and affordable foods in communities throughout the Delta region of the US
  2. Create and preserve quality jobs in the food and agriculture industry
  3. Revitalize communities throughout the Delta region of the US

Delta HFFI supports food retailers and retail supply chain partners in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee through capacity building, technical assistance, networking, and accessible financing.

Eligible applicants:

  • For-profit business enterprises
  • Tax-exempt nonprofits
  • Local & Tribal governments, authorities, commissions, and food policy councils

Eligible Locations

All applicants must be located in and serving eligible communities in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Tennessee. Use this link to view the HFFI eligibility map and identify eligible areas within the described region: www.investinginfood.com/eligibility/

Eligible Projects

  • Plans to expand or preserve the availability of staple and perishable foods
  • If the project involves retail sales, accepts benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 USC 2011 et. Seq.)
  • Plans to maintain and improve Food Supply Chain Resilience
  • Projects planning or expanding food enterprise projects that contribute to the retail food supply chain and downstream retailers, ultimately improving food access through retail sales

*Please note eligible projects must support the retail supply chain. While some projects may support multiple destinations within the supply chain, funding must demonstrate a clear connection to the retail food supply chain (rather than restaurant, institutional feeding, or other similar destinations).

Ineligible Projects

  • Agriculture-only projects
  • Meat and poultry processors
  • Fisheries or aquaculture
  • Charitable food
  • Nutrition education
  • Restaurants
  • Consumer packaged goods
  • Research studies
  • Public health nutrition initiatives
  • Culinary initiatives

Application Process

The Delta HFFI technical assistance and financing application process utilizes the Village Paths platform. Create a user account and begin the eligibility check and application process after reviewing the process below.

  1. Complete an eligibility check
  2. If eligible, you will receive a link to submit an inquiry form. Tell us more about your business needs, goals, and objectives.
  3. Delta HFFI partners will review each inquiry to assess alignment with Delta HFFI priorities, business readiness, and potential impacts. The completion of an inquiry form does not guarantee the receipt of financing or technical assistance. A representative of Delta HFFI will reach out within 30 days of your application for TA requests and 45 days for financing requests.
  4. Projects approved to apply for financing will receive a loan application from Hope Enterprise Corporation. Get a head start on expectations and materials for your application using this loan application checklist.


 

This project is supported by funding from the Local and Regional Healthy Food Financing Partnerships Program, administered by the Reinvestment Fund as part of America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI).

 

Delta Healthy Food Financing Initiative

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