Rhode Island received $1.13 billion of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following that announcement, RIFPC developed a comprehensive investment recommendation of $25.9 million, gathering input from hundreds of Rhode Islanders. The recommendations frame five priority areas that, overall, would provide relief to food insecure families, food businesses, farmers, fishers, aquaculturists, food access workers, food justice advocates, community health workers, and more.
In September, RIFPC hosted two Legislative Roundtables highlighting elements of the investment recommendation, convening state legislators and stakeholders in agriculture, fisheries, food manufacturing and food systems. The conversations were strategically centered around stakeholder voices, providing a platform to directly express concerns, needs, and potential impacts of investments in these sectors.
In November, RIFPC was invited to present the recommendation to the RI Senate Finance Committee. The presentation was well-received by legislators, and resulted in continued conversations with RIFPC about leveraging the funds. Presenters were Council member Alice Howard (Washington Trust and SunRise Forever Inc.), Diane Lynch (RIFPC Board President), Eva Agudelo (Hope’s Harvest RI) and Network Director Nessa Richman.
The state has not released the entirety of the ARPA funds. RIFPC continues to inform state legislators about the critical need to invest in Rhode Island’s food system.