Amount: 30-50% of total project costs covered up to $250,000.

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.

Eligibility Requirements

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

Eligible Expenses

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).

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.

Reimbursement Information

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.

Amount of the Grant

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.