Loans
The Kansas Healthy Food Initiative (KHFI) provides loans to support projects that increase access to healthy food at the retail level in low-resource and underserved areas of Kansas. To offset the debt burden of applicants, a portion of the funding package is provided as a grant. The size of the grant is dependent on the total funding request.
Projects of any size are eligible to apply to KHFI. However, in general, KHFI funding will be limited to $100,000 per project.
Financing Terms
- Loans up to $100,000. KHFI can either be used for total project costs or act as an additional source of capital that comes alongside a grant, bank loan, or other funding source. KHFI reserves the right to loan greater than $100,000 to a single project on a case-by-case basis.
- Terms: 1 to 15 years
- Competitive interest rates, based on collateral available
- Flexible loan structure
- Can be secured with first or second mortgage, or lien on equipment or leasehold
- No appraisal necessary
- No prepayment penalty
- Flexible project types and use of funds
Eligibility
Eligible projects must expand healthy food offerings in low-resource, underserved areas at the retail level and fit local community needs. They must accept/plan to accept SNAP or support a retail outlet that accepts SNAP. Examples of eligible projects include:
- Opening or expanding a grocery retail outlet that sells affordable and healthy foods, such as whole fruits and vegetables (fresh, refrigerated, frozen or canned), whole grains, fat free or low-fat dairy, lean meat, and protein.
- Developing an innovative food system project that increases access to healthy foods at affordable prices, such as a farmers’ market or food hub.
- Improving distribution of locally sourced, healthy foods to retail outlets.
Before submitting an application, please review the full program parameters and eligibility criteria in the KHFI Loan Guidelines (pdf), also available in Spanish, KHFI Guía (pdf).
All loan applications are first reviewed to determine whether the project meets KHFI programmatic goals. This eligibility review is the first step of the application process. To start the eligibility review process, provide some basic information about your project by completing a brief intake form. Eligibility does not guarantee funding.