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Eligibility Application

Thank you for your interest in the Massachusetts Food Trust Program (MFTP). This form will assess your business’s eligibility for the program. Upon receiving this completed form, program partners will review your eligibility application, reach out to you to schedule a phone call, and conduct additional research to determine whether your project aligns with the program’s mission and eligibility criteria. We will strive to notify you within 2-4 weeks of receiving this form about whether you are eligible and next steps in the process.

The MFTP is a revolving loan and grant fund with a goal to establish a financing infrastructure that increases access to healthy, affordable food options, with a preference for fresh locally sourced Massachusetts grown, caught or harvested healthy food and to improve economic opportunities for nutritionally underserved communities in urban, rural and suburban localities.

You may reach out to us with any questions by contacting Caroline Harries at charries@thefoodtrust.org. We look forward to hearing about your healthy food projects!

Contact Information

First Name

Last Name

Title

Phone

Email

How did you hear about us?

Other

Business Information

Business Name

Tax ID Number / EIN

Formation Year

Please enter as a whole number (ex: 2008)

Type of Entity

Other

Type of Business

Other

Gross Sales, last fiscal year (or projected for startups):

Project Use

Other

In a few sentences, please describe your project.

Business Address

Business Address Line 1

Business Address Line 2

City

Zip Code

County

State

Is your mailing address different from the one above?

YesNo

Mailing Address Line 1

Mailing Address Line 2

City

Zip Code

County

State

Finance Request

Are you applying for a loan, grant, or business assistance? Grants and loans can be used for equipment and other capital expenses, real estate, tenant improvement and infrastructure, and working capital. (Note: you may select more than one option)

LoanGrantBusiness Assistance

Total Loan Amount Requested ($15,000 to $300,000)

Please enter this value as a whole number, excluding dollar signs and periods (ex. 1000).

Total Grant Amount Requested ($5,000 to $25,000)

Please enter this value as a whole number, excluding dollar signs and periods (ex. 1000).

Briefly describe the uses of funds you are requesting.

Briefly describe the type of business assistance that you require. (e.g. business planning, financial modeling, cost scaling)

Total Project Cost

Please enter this value as a whole number, excluding dollar signs and periods (ex. 1000).

Please describe the sources of funds that will be used for this project. Please identify if each anticipated source of funds is a loan or does not need to be repaid (such as a grant or your own funds).

Example:
- My own funds (equity): $50,000
- Relative's investment (loan): $15,000
- Landlord investment (loan): $35,000
- MFTP (loan): $100,000
- Total needed for expansion of produce area of store: $200,000

List other sources of funding and amounts, if applicable.

About Your Project

In order to be eligible, projects need to align with the goals of the MFTP, namely by serving a low-to-moderate-income community, by being located in an underserved area (i.e. with limited to no access to fresh food retail), and by meeting the needs and expectations of the community.

Please consult the eligibility criteria for more information.

Estimated Project Start Date (if applicable)

MM/DD/YYYY

Estimated Project Completion Date (if applicable)

MM/DD/YYYY

Existing Retail Sq. Feet (if applicable)

Please enter as a whole number, without using letters, symbols, or commas (ex: 1000).

If proposing to expand the business, how many additional sq. feet will be added?

Approximate percentage of sq. feet selling fresh fruit and vegetables?

Approximate number of people served? (Briefly explain your methodology behind this number)

Do you accept SNAP and/or WIC?

Explanation of SNAP/WIC availability (if applicable)

Are you sourcing MA grown and/or processed food?

Please describe your sources of food. (e.g. Name of distributor, details on growers, etc.)

Have you ever applied or received funding from the Massachusetts Food Ventures Program?

Current Number of Worker Owners

Expected Number of Worker Owners

Current Number of Full Time Employees

Current Number of Part Time Employees

Expected Number of Additional Part Time Employees

Expected Number of Additional Full Time Employees

Total Approximate Percentage of Employees From The Local Community Once Project is Completed

Employees hourly rate? (Can be a range or an average)

Describe the accessibility to the business by customers via public transportation

Short Answers

In a few sentences, describe how your business serves a low-to-moderate income community.

In a few sentences, describe how your business’s community is underserved.

In a few sentences, describe how your business meets the needs and expectations of the community.

In a few sentences, describe your/your team’s experience managing healthy food projects.

Thank you so much for participating! We will be in touch shortly to schedule a phone call.

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