FDA, NEHA Promote Retail Food Program Standards with Grants, Workshops
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) are increasing their efforts to strengthen regulatory retail food programs and practices across the nation with grants and educational workshops. In March, over $7 million in funding was awarded to 228 state, local, territorial, and tribal (SLTT) regulatory retail food jurisdictions as part of the NEHA-FDA Retail Flexible Funding Model (RFFM) Grant Program. The funding is intended to support SLTT jurisdictions in aligning with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (RPS).
In the first year of the RFFM grant program, 444 total grants were awarded to 228 jurisdictions for development, maintenance and advancement, mentorship, training and staff development, special projects, and capacity building. The program also features mentorship led by the National Association for City and Council Officials that provides jurisdictions the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with each other as they work to achieve RPS.