Food Retail Innovation in Delivery Grant (FRIDG) Program

Food Retail Innovation in Delivery Grant (FRIDG) Program is sponsored by New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). The FRIDG program provides independent NJ supermarkets and other eligible food retailers with funds to buy temperature-controlled storage lockers.

Food Retail Innovation in Delivery Grant (FRIDG) - NJEDA FOOD RETAIL INNOVATION IN DELIVERY GRANT (FRIDG) The application window for this program is now closed. The Food Retail Innovation in Delivery Grant (FRIDG) will provide grant funding to New Jersey food retailers to purchase self-contained, temperature-controlled lockers.

These lockers may be used for food storage and delivery within Authority designated Food Desert Communities (FDCs), and with the purpose of expanding food delivery opportunities and improving food access for FDC residents.

Grants of up to $250,000 to support purchase of self-contained, temperature-controlled lockers for grocery delivery 30-50% of total project costs covered (inclusive of equipment purchase, delivery, and installation) Eligible food retailers will have the cost of self-contained, temperature-controlled lockers subsidized to help expand food delivery opportunities and improve food access in New Jersey Food Desert Communities (FDCs) Must be authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS) to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for online ordering The Food Retail Innovation in Delivery Grant (FRIDG) will make $1 million available for grants to improve food access in New Jersey Food Desert Communities (FDCs) by providing grants to food retailers to purchase self-contained, temperature-controlled lockers and install them in FDCs.

, which will facilitate food delivery and improve access to high quality groceries, including fresh produce, for FDC residents. Grants will cover between 30% and 50% of the total project cost (inclusive of locker purchase, delivery, and installation) up to $250,000.

Through the utilization of refrigerated lockers, the FRIDG program will help to increase the availability of nutritious food in FDCs while assisting food retailers to adapt to new business models that can help sustain their businesses.

Through FRIDG, supermarket retailers can subsidize the purchase of refrigerated locker units and will begin delivering to these units, which must be placed within an FDC, and may be placed near local organizations, such as food banks and community centers that are convenient for residents of the community and a place where residents facing food insecurity may already access services.

This model will also give FDC residents the ability to order online and have groceries delivered to a convenient central location without having to travel long distances to reach food retailers, as many FDC residents without a nearby grocer are currently forced to do.

Eligibility for the Food Retail Innovation in Delivery Grant (FRIDG) will be limited to food retailers which, at the time of application, are authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS) to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for online ordering.

Eligible Applicants include: Independent (single location with a single owner); Independent supermarket operators (single location working with a third-party supplier or franchisor); Cooperative retailers (member of a cooperative with similar supermarket owners); Chain supermarkets (ten or more supermarkets owned by a single corporate entity); Mass merchandisers (large retailers which operate full-service supermarkets within its retail locations such as Walmart); or Warehouse clubs (large retailers where customers can buy large quantities wholesale, such as BJ’s) All applicants, regardless of supermarket type, must have a physical retail location in New Jersey and can service and make deliveries to a locker located in an FDC.

This program is not open to online food retailerswith no physical retail location in New Jersey.

In addition, applicants must comply with the following requirements: Be in good standing with the following New Jersey Departments: Division of Taxation, as evidenced by a Tax Clearance Certificate Department of Environmental Protection Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commit to place any locker purchased through FRIDG in an NJEDA-designated FDC in an area that is accessible to the general public in an FDC (i.e., not in a restricted area such as an apartment building lobby open only to apartment residents) for a minimum of 12 hours per day, seven days per week Please be advised: New Jersey State law prohibits most cannabis license and certification holders from receiving or continuing to receive an economic incentive from the NJEDA.

If the applicant, or any person who controls the applicant or owns or controls more than one percent of the stock of the applicant, has applied for or received a license or a certification from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC), the applicant is ineligible for this program and should not proceed with an application.

If an application is received from an applicant that meets this criteria, the application will be declined and the application fee will not be refunded. Applicants are limited to purchase, delivery, and installation of self-contained, temperature-controlled lockers to help expand food delivery opportunities and improve food access within Authority-designated Food Desert Communities (FDCs). Lockers must be placed within an FDC.

FRIDG is intended to cover prospective costs for purchases not yet made. Projects where a contract has been signed, a purchase order placed, or a deposit made prior to application to the Authority will not be eligible for funding. Contracts of $2,000 or more that include installation are subject to Authority prevailing wage and affirmative action requirements and reporting.

Grants are limited to expenses related to the initial equipment purchase and locker installation; the applicant is responsible for ongoing operation and maintenance costs related to the locker.

Grant awards will start at 30% of total project costs (inclusive of locker purchase, delivery, and installation), with the ability to stack on bonuses to cover more of the costs for applicants that meet the following criteria, however where no grant can exceed 50% of the total project costs or $250,000, whichever is the lesser of the two.

Locker located within a Food Desert Community (FDC) ranked within the top ten (10) sitewide Applicant provides a Memorandum of Understanding, Letter of Support, Letter of Intent, or partnership contract or agreement with a social service community-based organization (e.g., food pantry, soup kitchen, community center, library) to locate locker on-site with the organization in a manner that is accessible to the public in a location where community members may already access services Commit to waive delivery fees for SNAP online purchases for deliveries made to the locker purchased through FRIDG Commits to waive delivery fees for all deliveries made to locker, regardless of payment type The Authority will make one single award disbursement when proof of equipment delivery and installation is provided, along with any necessary permits or agreements for siting the locker in its designated location within the FDC.

Application Fee: $1,000 (non-refundable) per application Food Desert Communities (FDCs) The NJEDA has created a mapping tool to assist potential applicants with locating NJEDA-designated Food Desert Communities (FDCs) in New Jersey.

Board Memo Program Specifications application checklist frequently asked questions informational webinar sample application FOOD DESERT COMMUNITIES securing your tax clearance certificate directions landlord certification form Community based organization interest form For more information or to ask a specific question, please send an email to fridg@njeda. gov and a team member will reach out to you.