PA FFFI - Application

Application

Please submit by November 1, 2025
Before submitting an application, please review the PA Fresh Food Financing Initiative (PA FFFI) Request for Applications (RFA).

For any questions, please email pafffi@thefoodtrust.org or call 215-575-0444, ext. 154.
1. Applicant Information
Name:*
Title/Relation to business:*
Email address*
example@example.com
Phone number*
Preferred method of contact*

EmailPhone
Secondary contacts:
How did you hear about the program?*

The Food Trust WebsiteThe Food Trust StaffThe Food Trust NewsletterSocial MediaOther RetailerBusiness AdvisorCommunity Development Financial InstitutionCommunity Development CorporationOther
Please state which Food Trust staff member let you know about the program.*
Please state which retailer let you know about the program.*
Please state which CDFI let you know about the program.*
Please state which CDC let you know about the program.*
Please state which business advisor let you know about the program.*
2. Business Information
Legal business name*
This should match your business license
Legal business owner*
Project name/DBA (if different from above)*
Tax ID number/EIN
Business mailing address*
City*
Zip*
County*
State*
Type of entity*

For ProfitNon ProfitCooperativeOther
Type of ownership*

Independently OwnedPrivately OwnedPublicly OwnedCorporately OwnedOther
Annual gross revenue in 2024*
Annual net profit/loss in 2024*
Formation of business (date)*

MonthDayYear
Date
Type of business*

SupermarketGrocery Store/MarketCorner Store/BodegaFood CoopFood Hub/DistributionFarmers MarketFarm/GreenhouseMobile Market/CSAOther
Does the owner or person in substantial control identify as any of the following? Applications are encouraged from underrepresented business owners, including:

Person of colorWomanLGBTQIA+VeteranDisabledImmigrantOther
3. Project Information
Retail site address (if different from business mailing address)
If serving multiple locations (i.e. mobile market sites, supermarket chains), please list the addresses below.
Project site control status at time of application*

LeaseOwnershipNegotiating LeaseNegotiating OwnershipOther
Estimated project start date*

MonthDayYear
Date
Estimated project end date*

MonthDayYear
Date
Current number of part-time employees*
Current number of full-time employees*
Expected number of additional part-time employees (if applicable)
Expected number of additional full-time employees (if applicable)
Total approximate number of employees from the local community (upon project completion)*
Employee hourly rate (range or average acceptable)*
Existing retail square feet*
If proposing to expand, how many additional square feet will be added?
Total produce department sales for the previous full month*
Expected percent growth of produce department sales after project completion*
Please describe your sources of fresh produce (e.g. name of distributor, details on growers, producers, etc.)*
Are you enrolled in Pennsylvania’s PA Preferred Program?*

YesNo
Describe any efforts to source locally/regionally grown or value-added products*
Does your business accept (if neither, please specify your plans to pursue authorization)*

SNAP/EBTWICNeitherOther
If you accept SNAP/EBT, what were your total SNAP/EBT sales for the last full month?*
If not applicable, write N/A
If currently open, what were your total gross sales for the last full month?*
If not applicable, write N/A
Average number of customers served per week*
If not applicable, write N/A
Do you participate in any Food Trust programming?*

YesNo
Please describe
4. Short Answers

(3-5 sentences)
Describe your overall project in detail. What are your main goals? How do you plan to achieve them? *
Describe how you will use awarded funds and how they will benefit your long-term business plan. Please list all proposed expenses. If applying for Technical Assistance, please describe what services are needed and why.*
Please describe the community that shops at your store. Please describe how your business meets their needs (e.g., pricing models, product selection, marketing, outreach efforts, mission statement).*
Please describe how the community has been involved in the planning of your project (if applicable).*
Describe existing food retail options in your community. Are options limited? What are the barriers in accessing healthy food in your community? What is missing? What role does your business play in your community?*
Please describe any efforts to use local contractors or businesses for your project.*
Please list all partners related to this project (if applicable).*
Describe your or your team’s management experience in food retailing and produce handling.*
Describe how you will use awarded funds and how they will benefit your long-term business plan. Please list all proposed expenses. *
Does a Low- to- Moderate-Income Community shop at your retail location? If so, please describe how your business meets their needs (ie. pricing models, product selection, marketing, outreach efforts, mission statement).*
Describe existing food retail options in your community. (Are options limited? What are the barriers in accessing healthy food in your community? What is missing?) What role does your business play in your community?*
Describe your or your team's management experience in food retailing and produce handling.*
References: Please provide the contact information for up to three community members or organizations that can speak about your business or the community that you serve. Please include name, relationship, and email address.*
Optional: Please explain if and how your business promotes supplier diversity or increases business opportunities for minority business enterprises.
These include: Minority Business Enterprises, Women Business Enterprises, Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises, LGBT Business Enterprises, and Disability-Owned Business Enterprises.
Describe the accessibility to the business by customers via public transportation (if applicable).
Optional
Describe the accessibility to the business pursuant to the ADA (if applicable).
Optional
5. Timeline and Milestones

Please list all planned activities related to this project. When do you expect that they will be completed? Please also provide a brief description of each activity.

Example 1: Order freezer, 12/15/25, Call refrigeration company and schedule delivery Example 2: Secure permit, 1/15/26, Submit request for land use permits to License and Inspections office

	Activity	Date of Expected Completion	Description of Activity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

6. Financial Request Information

*Note: Awarded financing packages may include loans, grants, and/or business assistance on a case-by-case basis to appropriately meet the needs of each project. Loan requests will be referred to a PA FFFI partner Community Development Financial Institution. Each eligible loan application will be underwritten and assessed for financial viability.
Funding use (select all that apply)*

Opening a new businessExpansion of an operating businessInfrastructure upgrades (i.e. renovation, equipment, etc.)PredevelopmentBusiness/Technical AssistanceOther
If interested in using awarded funds for business assistance, please select the type of assistance you would like to receive (select all that apply):

Financial ManagementMarketing/Graphic DesignBusiness Strategy/PlanningConstruction ManagementOther
Financing request type: You may select more than one option.*

LoanGrant
Loan request ($)
Grant request ($)*
Total project cost ($)*
Are you currently working with a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)?*

YesNo
If yes, which CDFI are you working with?

Reinvestment FundCommunity First FundBridgeway CapitalOther

Often projects cost more than the amount that a single grant can cover. If the total project cost exceeds your requested amount, are you able to fund the difference? If so, how? Please describe all sources of funds in addition to this grant that you will apply towards this project. If you have a pro forma financial statement or a capital stack list available, please upload it below. If you need additional space, please provide any extra funding sources in a separate document.*

	Source	Type(Loan/Grant/Equity/Subsidy/Other)	Amount	Use of Funds	Status (Committed or Requested)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

File upload (if needed)

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7. Additional Documents

Optional
Applicant Narrative: History of applicant business, management list and qualifications (food market operations and/or real estate development experience). Include resumes for key management if available at this time, as well as a list of all owners and their respective % of ownership.

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Project Description: Provide a detailed description of the project, including: current condition, scope of work, fresh food offerings (current/proposed), explanation of project costs, and need for funding. Please provide photos or renderings of project (or other currently operating stores).

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Community Support: Provide a short narrative, articles, maps, community letters, or other documentation to demonstrate the community's need and support for the project. Please describe how this store will meet the community's needs by offering affordable, fresh foods

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Business Plan

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Should be Empty:

Application

1. Applicant Information

2. Business Information

3. Project Information

4. Short Answers

5. Timeline and Milestones

6. Financial Request Information

7. Additional Documents