Governor Kathy Hochul announced that funding is available from the new $10 million “New York Providing Local Access to Essential Sustenance” (NY PLATES) capital grant program. Governor Hochul secured this funding in the FY 2026-27 Enacted Budget to support food banks and other organizations that provide emergency food assistance in building the modern facilities, equipment, and infrastructure needed to serve more families across the state. NY PLATES will offer competitive capital grants to eligible Food Banks, Emergency Food Programs, and municipalities providing food relief services within New York’s 10 regional food bank territories.
Eligible uses include capital costs related to, but not limited to, the design, construction or renovation of eligible program locations as well as for the purchase of equipment such as cold storage, freezers, and food transport vehicles. These investments will increase the capacity of critical food assistance organizations and enable them to safely store, transport, and distribute food to more New Yorkers in need.
A letter of support is a document, endorsed by the Food Bank, to express support for a project, program, or funding application. Its purpose is to demonstrate that others believe in the value, need, and potential impact of the effort being proposed.
Food Bank of Central New York is happy to provide our community partners with Letters of Support for the NY PLATES program. Please fill out the form, linked below, completely so that we can offer your organization a Letter of Support.
Here are a few things to take into consideration as you prepare your request:
- Please provide Food Bank with a draft for us to work from. (See a sample linked below)
- A letter of support may take up to two weeks to issue.
- A letter of support, if approved, will be issued to the requestor to include in their grant application. Food Bank will not submit it on your behalf.
*Please note that Food Bank of Central New York reserves the right not to offer a letter of support for any reason. A submitted request does not imply that the request will be filled.
