Our project, community-based solutions for food access, is designed by new london community meal center as a two-pronged approach toward a food system for all and includes community-based strategic…

New London Community Meal Center Inc. received a $730,782 Project Grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFDA 10.225) to implement a two-pronged initiative addressing food access in New London, Connecticut. The project, which commenced on September 15, 2025 and will conclude on September 14, 2028, combines immediate food distribution services with long-term community capacity building. The organization will operate a mobile market to distribute healthy, Connecticut-grown agricultural products to low-income residents, while simultaneously implementing the Nourishing Networks education component designed to strengthen local food system infrastructure and resilience.

The project integrates data collection activities to inform the development of a sustainable and vibrant local food system that addresses food security and nutrition insecurity among vulnerable populations. By connecting local agricultural producers with community members and implementing nutrition education programming, the initiative exemplifies the Community Food Projects program's emphasis on building linkages across food system sectors and fostering multi-agency, comprehensive approaches to addressing food and nutrition challenges in underserved communities.

Our project, community-based solutions for food access, is designed by new london community meal center as a two-pronged approach toward a food system for all and includes community-based strategic planning. This project will meet the immediate need for healthy and nutritious CT grown products through our mobile market, while at the same time broadening our network and resources through the nourishing networks education component, while at the same time collecting datain order to create a sustainable and vibrant local food system for all.