The Local Foods, Local Places program launched in 2014 as a partnership between EPA, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). It was born out of the Livable Communities in Appalachia partnership, which was working to promote economic development, preserve rural lands, and increase access to locally grown food in Appalachian towns and rural communities. Since its inception, EPA has partnered with multiple federal, state, regional, and local partners, delivering assistance to 137 communities.

Through the Local Foods, Local Places program, partner communities have worked on projects such as:

• Opening year-round, downtown markets featuring foods from local farmers.
• Planning cooperative grocery stores and other food access options to help revitalize small-town main streets.
• Creating centrally located community kitchens or food hubs to aggregate and market local foods.
• Starting business incubators to help entrepreneurs launch food-related businesses on main streets.
• Making it easier for people to walk or bicycle to farmers markets, food cooperatives, and local restaurants.
• Helping schoolchildren connect with nature by learning to grow their own food.
• Making healthy local food accessible to families, including via SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
• Developing community gardens in walkable, transit-accessible places.

EPA and Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will select two applicants in this current round of Local Foods, Local Places through an open call for applications. These communities must be located in ARC counties to be eligible to apply. Please visit this webpage to learn if you live in a county serviced by ARC.