The New London Community Meal Center’s plan to source locally grown foods for the benefit of its clients is one of seven projects awarded funding from the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, the state Department of Agriculture announced Friday.

More than $2 million is being awarded to the seven projects. The New London Community Meal Center will receive $300,000. The group’s initiative is being done in collaboration with agencies FRESH New London, The Hispanic Alliance and the New London Area Food Pantry.

They will source Connecticut-grown farm products to be used in preparing lunches and dinners served to clients at the Meal Center, as well as for distribution through two New London pantries located at the Hispanic Alliance and the New London Senior Center. Recipients will be connected to services offered through project partners.

The funding is meant to provide a combination of financial and technical assistance resources to facilitate projects and relationships that will help build long-term market opportunities and increase food supply chain resiliency, the state Department of Agriculture said in a statement.

The LFPA program is authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency. Eligible entities included pantry collaboratives, food hubs and aggregators, or agencies that collect items, as well as community health centers and social service centers to purchase Connecticut-grown products with a focus on small and socially disadvantaged producers to be distributed to underserved communities.