LA County Awards Nearly $10 Million in Community Grants to Advance Food Equity

The LA Food Equity Fund, managed by Community Partners, last week announced $9.8 million in community grants to alleviate food insecurity and build a more resilient food system across Los Angeles County.

Tapping into federal American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA funding, Los Angeles County’s Chief Sustainability Office and Community Partners are supporting 46 organizations working to create more just access to affordable and nutritious food across the Southland. Nearly 3 in 10 County households experienced food insecurity in 2023, according to USC researchers.

The investments, guided by the ambitious recommendations of the Los Angeles Food Equity Roundtable Action Plan, range in size from $100,000 to just over $400,000. The Roundtable, a private-public partnership of government, philanthropy and community based organizations, seeks to fundamentally transform the region’s disconnected food system.

The grants will fund a wide array of local community groups striving to improve food access and affordability as well as greater resilience and sustainability within food supply chains. Capacity-building grants comprise the bulk of investments.

Other grants awarded provide a wide range of support services, from incubating small food businesses in underserved communities to aiding street vendors through food-handling certification programs. For more details, please see this full list of awarded grantees.

Due to systemic biases and injustices, Latino and Black households in LA County report higher rates of food insecurity than white households, nearly 2 to 1. The Roundtable’s Action Plan outlines 14 priority population segments most likely to experience food insecurity, from immigrant families to transgender individuals.

While $1M of grant funds support direct distribution of culturally relevant food items, infant formula, diapers, and personal hygiene items, the bulk of awards aim to drive systemic transformation of inequitable food production models and outdated supply chains.