The Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative (FFI) has announced it is seeking requests for activities to support and build on its efforts. This initiative is about people working together to create vibrant communities where the healthy choice is the easy choice.
This work began in April 2007 when the W.K. Kellogg Foundation selected Northeast Iowa as one of nine communities locations across the country to become models of community change. Each project received a planning grant and for the past two years FFI has assessed this region’s access to food and places to be active and play.
Two years of intensive community participation and planning have helped Northeast Iowa identify three strategies to improve food and fitness environments through policy and system change. Those strategies include:
• Ensure that school district policies and practices support healthy living of children, families and community members.
• Ensure that fresh, local, healthy food is available and affordable in all communities, neighborhoods and institutions.
• Ensure that communities have a built environment that supports abundant opportunities for physical activity and play.
The FFI regional planning team is now developing a community action plan based on these strategies. The plan will be submitted to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation this summer for implementation support and will be based on the activities selected through the Request for Activities (RFA) process.
Citizens representing any 501(c)3 organization/agency, educational or governmental institution in Northeast Iowa may submit an RFA. Northeast Iowa is defined as the counties of Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek. The NE Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative strongly encourages involvement and collaboration between representatives of the farming community, schools, active living work, healthcare, and food-based businesses in the proposal process.
Proposal forms, instructions and criteria for the RFA can be found at the Food and Fitness Initiative website (www.iowafoodandfitness.org). A one- to two-page concept paper and proposed budget must be submitted by 4:30 p.m., April 1, 2009 to the Iowa State University Extension, Winneshiek County office. Electronic copies are encouraged and may be sent via email.
Funding of activities may be for up to two years, beginning October 1, 2009. Budgets must demonstrate a 25% match in leveraging of other funds (cash and/or in-kind match). Proposals may range between $1,000 and $50,000.
All proposals will be screened and scored by the NE Iowa FFI Regional Team and its work groups. All applicants will be notified in June 2009 if their proposal will be included in the FFI Community Action Plan application sent to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Proposals should demonstrate how the proposed work will build on the NE Iowa FFI Regional Team’s efforts or other northeast Iowa projects to create the initiative’s vision: “For Northeast Iowa to be a unique place where all residents and guests experience, celebrate and promote healthy locally grown food with abundant opportunities for physical activity and play EVERY DAY. Healthier people make stronger families and vibrant communities.”
Activities that support or complement the work of the Regional Team work groups are encouraged. These groups are: School Work Group, Youth Work Group, Northeast Iowa Food and Farm (NIFF) Coalition, Built Environment Work Group, Communication Work Group, Community Health Work Group, and Inclusive Team Work Group. To learn about their work go to http://www.extension.iastate.edu/allamakee/info/rtworkgroups.htm or contact co-conveners Brenda Ranum or Ann Mansfield.
Additional information and complete instructions can be downloaded from www.iowafoodandfitness.org or obtained from the ISU County Extension offices in Cresco, Elkader, Waukon, Fayette, and Decorah. The NE Iowa FFI co-conveners, Brenda Ranum or Ann Mansfield, can be reached at ISU Extension – Winneshiek County, Decorah, (563)382-2949.