Food is Medicine (FIM) Programs NOFO

Summary

LDH Food is Medicine (FIM) program funds rural projects integrating nutrition into healthcare — partnerships between healthcare providers and community organizations connecting rural residents to healthy foods via clinician referral, plus nutrition education for chronic disease prevention/management. Year 1 Food FARMacy program funding: $2,700,000. Award size per project: $10,000–$500,000, reimbursement-based with a mandatory 10% in-kind match.

Eligibility

Lead applicant does not need to be a licensed healthcare provider, but the project must include a healthcare component. Organizations must qualify as rural or rural-serving under Louisiana's RHTP definition and methodology, and demonstrate financial, infrastructure, or access-related need to rural food recipients through a documented assessment.

Requirements Checklist

• Must establish partnerships between healthcare providers and community-based organizations; include a referral loop to a health care clinician; provide nutrition education focused on disease prevention/chronic disease management; demonstrate a clear sustainability plan beyond the grant period; minimum 10% in-kind contribution; reimbursement-based funding via Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (incur costs, then invoice LDH). Does not fund construction or duplicate existing funding sources.