Committee approves $1M regional USDA food-systems partnership grant, city to be fiscal agent

The Economic Development Committee voted, by no-objection motion, to accept and fund a three-year USDA Regional Food Systems Partnership Program grant that will position the city as fiscal agent and coordinate regional food-system improvements with Dane and Brown counties.

Mario Higgins, director of community development grants administration, told the committee the grant—designed as a regional partnership—aims to develop a replicable model for regional food-system transformation, bolster infrastructure, provide technical assistance to food enterprises and establish infrastructure for food recovery and composting. He said the city applied last June and will lead a project coordinator procurement process (RFP) to administer the program. “The USDA Regional Food System Partnership Program … seeks to develop a replicable model for regional food system transformation that will improve food access and strengthen economic opportunity in Milwaukee and across the state,” Higgins said.

Higgins and Kimberly Couyant clarified financial details: the grant amount is just short of $1 million with a city-provided match; most direct resources and equipment (for cold storage and similar infrastructure) will be spent in Milwaukee while some shared training and technical assistance will go to Dane and Brown County partners. The grant includes $300,000 in mini-grants allocated across three years ($100,000 per year) to local organizations; project staffing will include a part-time grant compliance manager (40% time) as a city employee and a contracted project coordinator to work regionally. Committee members asked whether coordinator costs include contractor benefits and discussed travel requirements to Madison; Higgins said coordination is expected to be contracted rather than a full-time staff posting.

Alderman Chambers moved to adopt the resolution; hearing no objections, the chair ordered the resolution adopted. Committee members asked staff to return with more detailed figures and outreach plans before program launch.