The County of Maui Department of Agriculture (MDOA) has opened the FY2027 Local Food Purchasing Incentive: Farm to Family Grant for Maui County-based organizations that purchase, contract for, or subsidize foods grown or harvested in Maui County to make healthy local food more affordable and accessible.
Funding and deadline
Grant awards range from $100,000 to $400,000 for a 12-month FY2027 grant period. MDOA expects multiple awards and uses a cost-reimbursement structure. Applications opened September 15, 2026 and are due October 15, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. HST.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants must operate within Maui County. The current grant guide permits Hawaiʻi for-profit organizations, IRS-recognized nonprofit organizations, and sole proprietors, subject to County compliance, governance, financial, and supporting-document requirements. Programs must serve a public purpose and should benefit Hawaiʻi residents.
Program priorities
Eligible models include local food subsidy programs, farm-to-food-pantry purchasing, first foods and infant feeding, kūpuna feeding, produce and protein box distribution, school food pantry and nutrition education, summer and school-break feeding, and Produce Rx models that prescribe medically tailored meals, local produce boxes, or local protein boxes as preventive health measures for at-risk patients.
Only food grown or harvested in Maui County qualifies for reimbursement. Processed foods may qualify when at least 80% by volume of ingredients are grown or harvested in Maui County and the final product is made in Maui County. A minimum of 70% of total grant expenses should be spent on food costs.
Budget and allowable costs
The grant guide allows project-specific food, personnel, payroll taxes and fringe, approved contractors and consultants, certain travel, qualifying equipment, administrative costs, and indirect costs up to 15% of the total budget. Equipment must be necessary to the project, dedicated solely to the grant, and receives additional County controls. The published materials state no separate matching-funds requirement.
Required application materials
Applicants must use the official application and MDOA budget workbook and provide required compliance and supporting records. These include tax certificates or Hawaiʻi Compliance Express documentation, DCCA registration or certificate of good standing as applicable, W-9, bylaws or operating procedures, corporate resolution when applicable, two years of profit-and-loss financial statements, and applicable subcontractor or fiscal-sponsorship agreements.
Submission
Applications may be submitted by email, hand delivery, or mail according to the official instructions. Late applications are not accepted. MDOA identifies the controlling solicitation deadline as October 15, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. HST.
Atlas analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 88/100. The opportunity has strong community-health, nutrition-access, and food-security value, including an expressly eligible Produce Rx model, but the broader program is not limited to healthcare organizations. N9+ Fit Score: 0/100 because the verified funded purpose is local food purchasing and distribution rather than remote examination, telehealth, diagnostic technology, or medical equipment. QC Healthcare Fit: 12/100 because healthcare-linked Produce Rx partnerships can be legitimate within the program, while ordinary projects remain food-access rather than clinical-technology opportunities.
Official sources: County of Maui — Farm to Family Grant; FY2027 Farm to Family Grant Solicitation; and FY2027 Farm to Family Grant Guide.