Local Foods, Local Places Initiative

As part of the White House Rural Council, ARC is partnering with five federal agencies on the Local Foods, Local Places (LFLP) initiative to help communities integrate local food development into their community action plans. Since 2014, the initiative has provided technical support to 61 communities nationwide—including 22 in Appalachia—to:

• Boost economic opportunities for local farmers and businesses;
• Improve access to healthy local food and promote childhood wellness; and
• Create healthy, walkable, economically vibrant neighborhoods.

Local Foods, Local Places is supported by ARC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Transportation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Delta Regional Authority. ARC support helps participating Appalachian communities implement their LFLP community action plans.

Communities are selected though a competitive grant process. In January 2016, six Appalachian communities were chosen for LFLP assistance.

Local Foods, Local Places builds on the Livable Communities in Appalachia partnership to promote economic development, preserve rural lands, and increase access to locally grown food in Appalachian communities.

For more information on ARC's Local Foods, Local Places Initiative grants, please email info@arc.gov.

Additional Information:

Local Foods, Local Places Summary Report January 2016: Revitalizing Communities by Growing Local Food Economies (PDF: 3.8 MB)

ARC Press Release 1/29/2016: Six Appalachian Communities Receive 2016 Federal Local Foods, Local Places Awards to Integrate Local Food Strategies into Main Street Revitalization and Public Health Efforts

ARC Press Release 12/3/2014: Eight Appalachian Communities are Winners of National Local Foods, Local Places Grant Competition

White House Blog 6/9/2014: A Federal Partnership to Help Rural America Use Local Food and Build Local Economies