Increasing access to healthy food by strengthening local growers' capacity. - food well alliance (FWA) seeks to strengthen food security and healthy food access across metro atlanta through the…

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded Food Well Alliance, Inc. $141,000 on August 31, 2026, under the Social Services Research and Demonstration program (CFDA 93.647) to strengthen food security and healthy food access across metro Atlanta.

Food Well Alliance will purchase a mobile shared-use education and processing unit and farm implements—a BCS tractor with attachments and a multi-use utility vehicle—to be made accessible to local growers and community-based food organizations. The mobile unit, the first resource of its kind in the region, will be shared by 15 food and community nonprofits and will support creation of value-added food products, shelf-life extension, food waste reduction, and increased grower revenue. The tractor and utility vehicle will help growers expand production capacity while reducing operational costs. Food Well Alliance will also provide hands-on workforce development and food safety training for participating growers and community members.

The award period runs through August 30, 2027, with performance in Georgia. Success will be measured by the number of growers utilizing the equipment and training programs and the volume of value-added products processed and distributed throughout the region.

Increasing access to healthy food by strengthening local growers' capacity. - food well alliance (FWA) seeks to strengthen food security and healthy food access across metro atlanta through the purchase of a mobile shared-use education and processing unit and farm implements (tractor, attachments, utility vehicle) for local growers and community-based food organizations. This project addresses a critical GAP in regional food infrastructure by providing affordable access to processing equipment and farm tools that are otherwise financially out of reach for many small farmers and urban growers. The mobile shared-use education and processing unit will be the first resource of its kind in the region. The facility is shared by 15 food and community nonprofits. The mobile unit will include equipment to support the creation of value-added food products, extend shelf life, reduce food waste, and increase grower revenue. In addition, a BCS tractor with attachments and multi-use utility vehicle will be purchased and made accessible through FWA, helping growers expand production capacity while reducing operational costs. The project will also provide hands-on workforce development and food safety training for participating growers and community members. Through this investment, FWA will increase local agricultural capacity, improve access to fresh and healthy foods, strengthen regional food resilience, and support healthier outcomes for families. Project success will be measured by the number of growers utilizing the equipment and training programs, as well as the volume of value-added products processed and distributed throughout the region