NJEDA Board Approves Second Round of FEED NJ Grants, Providing $9.3M to 23 Organizations

This marks $30 million food security program’s second round of awards, which will support initiatives that improve residents’ ability to access fresh, affordable, and healthy food

TRENTON, N.J. (December 17, 2025) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board approved more than $9.3 million in grant awards to 23 organizations under the Food Equity and Economic Development in New Jersey (FEED NJ) Pilot Program. The approvals mark the second round of awards under the $30 million program and will expand the NJEDA’s support for food security projects in New Jersey’s 14 most acute Food Desert Communities (FDCs), catalyzing innovative, sustainable, and scalable food access initiatives in underserved areas. The first round of 50 approvals totaling $20.6 million was made during the NJEDA’s November board meeting. The total funding of $30 million to 73 organizations is one of the largest investments in recent years dedicated to strengthening New Jersey’s food security infrastructure.  

“The NJEDA has broadened its food security efforts throughout Governor Murphy’s administration, supporting innovative solutions that uplift New Jersey’s families, strengthen our economy, and open new doors of opportunity,” said NJEDA Acting Chief Executive Officer Mary Maples. “The funding approved today will support a range of projects, including grocery delivery and urban farming programs, empowering local partners and providing lasting support to communities that need it most.”

Each of the 23 grant recipients will receive awards of up to $500,000 and will primarily focus their projects on serving residents of one or more of the highest-need FDCs, which are spread across seven counties, comprise portions of 12 municipalities, and are home to 567,349 residents. Primary Focus FDCs include portions of Bridgeton, Camden, Fairfield Township, Lawrence Township, Newark, New Brunswick, Passaic City, Paterson, Pennsauken, Salem City, Trenton, and Woodlynne.

The second round of awards approved by the NJEDA board will also serve 36 additional FDCs such as Dover, Jersey City, Irvington, East Orange, and Perth Amboy.  All 50 of the state’s designated FDCs will be served by FEED NJ projects, which include creating new or expanded food pantries and mobile markets, partnering with farmers to bring locally-grown food to New Jersey residents, buying new delivery vehicles, and strengthening meal recovery initiatives.

Click here to view the full list of all 73 awardees and descriptions of their proposed projects.

“With community-driven initiatives like FEED NJ, the NJEDA is continuing to make transformative investments to advance food security, recognizing that access to fresh, affordable food is essential for both economic stability and social well-being,” said NJEDA Chief Economic Security Officer Tara Colton. “FEED NJ will empower nonprofits and private partners to bring meaningful food access programs to underserved areas, opening the door to greater opportunity for countless families.”

The NJEDA’s list of New Jersey’s 50 FDCs, which was created in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, considers more than 24 variables related to the food retail environment, demographics, economic health, and community factors. A full list and map of all 50 FDCs is available on the FEED NJ website.

“FEED NJ represents targeted investments in the districts and communities across our state and helps ensure families can access fresh, affordable food in the neighborhoods where they live,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “This second round of grants continues our commitment to meeting needs on the ground and supporting the local partners who work tirelessly to strengthen local food access. Fighting food insecurity is fundamental, and when we take the steps to make sure families have what they need, we lay the foundation for better health and lasting opportunity.”

“Just this week a survey of Americans revealed that nearly 70% of people are struggling to afford groceries for their household. That is staggering,” said Department of Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman. “These grants will help community feeding organizations expand their programs and more effectively address hunger needs in neighborhoods that lack consistent, reliable and affordable access to nutritious food. I am grateful to the NJEDA for continuing to prioritize basic necessities like food access as critical components of economic security and success for all New Jersey families.”

“The FEED NJ grants are another tool New Jersey is using to build a more sustainable food system,” said Ed Wengryn, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture. “These grants create opportunities to connect our state’s farmers with food desert communities, providing local foods, strengthening our food system, and meeting critical nutritional needs.”

“Every community deserves a fair opportunity to close the gaps that exist between local residents and dignified access to nourishing food, and to address the root causes of those gaps,” said NJ Office of the Food Security Advocate Executive Director Mark Dinglasan. “This second round of FEED NJ funding expands that opportunity to more communities, and does so through a number of trusted local organizations I know are collaborating with farmers and growers, healthcare, school- and faith- based partners, residents, peer service providers and municipal and county offices to help prevent neighbors from being swept into a time of dire need, even as they care for the neighbors they serve each day. OFSA congratulates and is ready to support the new FEED NJ grantees and our NJEDA colleagues in this intentionally broader, more holistic work.”

FEED NJ complements the NJEDA’s robust toolkit of existing programs taking different approaches to expanding food access, which includes the Food Security Planning Grant Program, the Atlantic City Food Security Grants Pilot Program, and the Food Desert Relief Supermarket Tax Credit Program. Last month, the NJEDA announced that it provided $900,000 to support the State’s six Emergency Feeding Organizations as they faced increased demand due to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits crisis caused by the federal government shutdown.

FEED NJ is funded with $30 million in proceeds from the NJEDA’s 2023 and 2024 Food Desert Relief Tax Credit Auctions, which were authorized by the Food Desert Relief Act of 2021. For more information on the NJEDA’s food security programs, visit https://www.njeda.gov/food-security-programs/.

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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