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Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grants

Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production (UAIP) competitive grants initiate or expand efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs. Projects may target areas of food access; education; business and start-up costs for new farmers; and development of policies related to zoning and other needs of urban production.

Grant Types

Grants are divided into two categories:

Planning projects initiate or expand efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, and other stakeholders in urban areas and suburbs. Projects may target areas of food access; education; business and start-up costs for new farmers; and development of policies related to zoning and other needs of urban production.

Implementation Projects accelerate existing and emerging models of urban, indoor, and other agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers. Projects will improve local food access and collaborate with partner organizations and may support infrastructure needs; emerging technologies; educational endeavors; and urban farming policy implementation.

Resources

Stories

Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Success Stories

Common Ground Producers and Growers, KS (Implementation Project)

The Common Ground Urban Innovation Project facilitates the development of entrepreneurial projects such as job training, land, equipment, mentoring, and other business development assistance to new and beginning farmers. 25% of the work outlined in the grant, has been accomplished during year one. The Common Ground Mobile Market also encourages farmers and growers to expand their production. Hands-on training in farming and gardening to growers and students in the targeted zip codes will be offered and part-time community-based staff will be hired from targeted zip codes. During year two more qualitative data will be gathered regarding whether consumers have changed their food purchasing or eating habits due to the mobile market, as well as how often consumers return to the market and recommend it to others. Another growth area will be to provide further nutrition education through physical/digital materials and cooking classes to promote healthy eating. For more information, please view the Common Ground Producers and Growers Helps Wichita Residents video.

A man on a tractor with a woman beside him

Tampa Family Health Centers, FL

Building upon the efforts of a Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization project, Tampa Family Health Care Centers (TFHC) is excited and eager to expand upon the current efforts of the Garden Steps Project. The project purpose is to improve the quality of medical and mental/emotional/behavioral (MEB) health by increasing access to care through the reduction of barriers to healthy food and the increase in outdoor activities. They will complete a comprehensive Implementation Plan based upon the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Implementation Plan Template, approved by Sherry Hoback, President and CEO. TFHC will identify 200 patients with indicated conditions who are willing to complete an Intent to Change survey of eating behaviors as measured by actual number completing survey. Finally, they plan to conduct surveys to at least 2,500 individuals, with or without indicated conditions, who intend to use knowledge of the garden, its launch date and how to get involved, as measured by actual number completing surveys. For more information, please view the Tampa Family Health Care Centers page.

A woman gesturing at a small tree in front of her

Grants News

2022 Projects

2022 Projects
Organization Name Project Title State/Territory Project Summary
ISLES INC Strengthening Trenton’s Agricultural Network and Climate Resilience NJ: New Jersey This project will strengthen the capacity for urban agriculture in the Trenton, NJ region, while providing residents with
essential marketable skills and opportunities for careers and/or supplemental income through farming.
CULTIVATE CHARLOTTESVILLE The Power to Grow: Cultivating New Opportunities in Urban Agriculture and Food Equity in Charlottesville VA: Virginia Power to Grow, through Cultivate Charlottesville, will bring community together to plan for the next steps in replacing, restoring, and protecting community urban agricultural land and infrastructure while also expanding development of
supportive programming and systems.
IDEAS FOR US INC Fleet Farming Expansion of Senior‐focused Agriculture Education FL: Florida Fleet Farming, an urban agricultural program under IDEAS For Us Inc., will partner with Sacred Kashi and the Florida Food Policy Council to offer senior citizens from Indian River County, FL, an accessible urban agriculture education program, hands‐on educational experiences, digital training, and a new community farmer’s market.
HOWARD‐SUAMICO SCHOOL DISTRICT Howard‐Suamico Goes Hydroponic WI: Wisconsin The Howard‐Suamico School District (HSSD) will improve the school's access to local, fresh, and nutritious food, while also
teaching students about innovative agriculture production, using hydroponic technology.
STAR OF THE SEA FOUNDATION, INC. Florida Keys Aeroponic Farm: A Community‐Focused Approach to Food Access and Agricultural Education FL: Florida The Florida Keys Aeroponic Farm: A Community‐Focused Approach to Food Access and Agricultural Education project supports two primary goals: 1) Establish an urban aeroponic farm in Key West, Florida to increase local food production and improve food security, while making local food‐relief  programs more economically and environmentally sustainable, and 2) Expand community agriculture education programs to promote knowledge on food systems, food equity, nutrition and climate‐conscious behavior.
ARCADIA FOOD Route 1 Community Farm: Making Farmland Accessible to a Food‐Insecure Population VA: Virginia The Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture will establish the Route 1 Community Farm, a 2‐acre growing space
nestled within Arcadia’s working farm, providing resources for residents to cultivate their own, culturally appropriate foods; additionally, educational resources and marketing opportunities will be provided to community farmers.
SMALL PLACES Project CAPTAN (Community Agricultural Production and Training for Aspiring New‐farmers): Increasing food access, community based production and farmer training in
Houston’s East End community
TX: Texas This project will build upon and expand on programs already provided by the farm at their original 1.25 acre farm location. The new 1.5 acre site will construct upgraded mission critical infrastructure and have an even larger production area that will allow our farm to provide expanded programming to better serve a larger portion of our community through food access and farmer training.
HISPANIC‐AMERICAN INSTITUTE, INC. Northwest Puerto Rico Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Project PR: Puerto Rico The Northwest Puerto Rico Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Project (NWPRUAIP) will improve access to locally grown and produced foods in seven northwest Puerto Rico Municipalities through urban and innovative agricultural practices, including community gardens, urban farms, and innovative technologies.
YES HOUSING, INC. Feeding the Community: Planning Funds to Explore Leveraging Multifamily and Mixed‐Used Developments to Grow Food, Build Community, and Create Green Spaces in Albuquerque New Mexico. NM: New Mexico The planning project in the Albuquerque, NM region, will build upon a decade of YES’ experience installing gardens on building sites, piloting new locations and approaches at existing developments, while creating plans to expand production and scale the model. Planning will be supported by a strong network of experienced partners working in growing, food justice, climate justice, healthcare, and nutrition.
KNOX PARKS FOUNDATION INC Expanding Access to Urban Growing Space and Agricultural Trainings CT: Connecticut KNOX manages and maintains 21 community gardens throughout Hartford. Many gardens have unmet infrastructure needs, which limits their use. KNOX will expand access to growing space through infrastructure improvements. These enhancements will also open up growing space for KNOX farming participants. Workshops and educational opportunities will be made available for both adults and students.
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION Hope Farms ‐ Growing a New Tradition of Urban Farmers (“New Traditions”) TX: Texas This project will expand the New Traditions program by increasing access for historically underserved  participants in the Growing Urban Farmers Intensive Course and Master Classes. It will also provide additional professional learning opportunities and peer networking opportunities at the Hope Farms Training Center.
NET POSITIVE, INC. Net Positive Inc Youth Training Program NY: New York Net Positive Inc will partner with Gro‐operative, Inc (Gro‐op) aquaponics company and Riverside High School to address wealth and health disparities by providing in‐school and after school opportunities for low‐income students of color in Buffalo, NY.
4R FOUNDATION, INC., THE EDUCATION FOOD FOREST AT INNOVATIVE URBAN FARM CAMPUS TO BENEFIT CENTRAL FLORIDA FL: Florida This project will build an educational food forest exhibit on the 4Roots Farm Campus. The exhibit will contain dozens of species of trees and plants, including edibles, pollinator attractors, fertilizers, weed suppressors, and pest repellers, providing many environmental benefits. The exhibit will include pathways and educational signage with curricula to support outdoor lessons.
INMED PARTNERSHIPS FOR CHILDREN,INC INMED Aquaponics VA: Virginia INMED aims to expand programming for the Leesburg Mobile Home Park (LMHP) in  Leesburg  by  establishing  the  Esperanza (Hope) Center and community aquaponics garden. This project leverages INMED’s existing partnerships, community networks and long history of successful education programs to address food insecurity, health inequities and lack of sustainable incomes.
JUSTICE INNOVATION INC. Queens Community Justice Center: Gardening Raises Opportunities and Wealth in Neighborhoods (Grow'n) NY: New York The Queens Community Justice Center will build on its Grow’n program, which currently provides food production and gardening training through its workforce development department, as well as, community gardening‐based programming the Justice Center has run for a decade.
CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES INC FIG Expansion and Adaptation AK: Alaska This project will support the expansion of an existing urban garden in Mountain View, a highly diverse, low‐income, low‐ access community in northeast Anchorage, Alaska. The goal of the Implementation Project is to expand urban agriculture practices to meet the needs of a diverse, low‐income, low‐access urban community located in a food insecure state.
JANNUS, INC. Pleasant Valley Farm ‐ Expanding the work of Global Gardens in Southwest Idaho ID: Idaho Global Gardens, a program of the Idaho Office for Refugees at Jannus, is a land‐based urban agriculture training program that has been operating in Boise, Idaho for over 18 years. The project provides land, water, and infrastructure and outstanding farming expertise and training at five farm sites. The 3‐year implementation project will provide land access and improvement to refugee farmers, and expand food access in the local community.
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE INC Cultivating Resilient Food Futures in a Changing Climate NY: New York The project “New Roots: Cultivating Resilient Food Futures in a Changing Climate,” will improve food access for socially disadvantaged refugee and immigrant communities of color in Tucson, Arizona. The proposed project will improve access to land for refugee and  immigrant  farmers, help participants improve farm yields through the installation of a climate‐adapted greenhouse; improve their skills and knowledge through trainings and technical assistance; and increase the capacity of local agriculture partner organizations.
AGROECOLOGY COMMONS GROWING URBAN AGRICULTURE COOPERATION FOR COMMUNITY‐LED EDUCATION, LAND ACCESS, AND VALUES‐ ALIGNED MARKETS CA: California This UAIP project presents a collaborative model to advance urban agriculture production and innovation by supporting urban agroecological land stewardship, expanding market channels, and increasing the distribution of fresh local food in low‐access urban food areas. This model centers relationship‐building and cooperation through farm apprenticeships, value‐aligned market collaboration, land access, soil assessments, and a farm tool lending library.
THOMPSON, TOWN Economic Gardening in Thompson, CT ‐ A Planning Proposal for a Food System & Agricultural Small Business Support Center and Public Food Forest CT: Connecticut The objective of this proposal is to develop a comprehensive plan for the adaptive reuse of two Town‐owned properties in
Thompson, CT. The ultimate goals of this planning project are a municipally‐sponsored small business support center, focusing on agricultural and food system start‐ups; and a public food forest park, installed using permaculture principles.
A RED CIRCLE Improving access to local foods in North County through urban agriculture MO: Missouri Red Circle will enhance existing collaborative partnerships, educate the community, and address food insecurity through the enhancement of a community food system to grow and distribute locally grown produce in the North St. Louis County area of St. Louis, an underserved, USDA‐certified food desert, and Promise Zone.
COALFIELD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION From the Ground Up: Strengthening Urban Agriculture and Job Training in Huntington WV. WV: West Virginia Refresh Appalachia, a program of non‐profit Coalfield Development, is seeking funding to support efforts to alleviate the
effects of the food insecurity issues in the second largest city in WV, Huntington. This will be accomplished through increasing the number of people engaged in sustainable urban farming, providing access to equipment, aggregation and distribution services, and creating workforce training opportunities.
NATIVE SEEDS SEARCH Native Seeds/SEARCH Community Seed Savers Project AZ: Arizona Native Seeds, a seed conservation non‐profit and seedbank based in Tucson, Arizona proposes "The Community Seed Savers Project". The Community Seed Savers project will expand outreach efforts to increase participation in free seed programs, deliver container gardening and seed saving workshops, and support Indigenous community leaders involved in gardening and farming to gain expertise in arid agriculture and seed saving.
METRO ATLANTA URBAN FARM Improving Access in Underserved Communities to Local Foods through Urban and Innovative
Agricultural Practices: Community Farms, Urban Gardens, and Emerging Technologies
GA: Georgia Metro Atlanta Urban Farm (MAUF) aims to advance and improve access to local foods in underserved communities where access to fresh, healthy food is limited or unavailable. MAUF and partners will work with community gardens, indoor farms, and greenhouses. The project will include education and training for students on careers in agricultural business. The project partners will provide mentoring and other assistance to new and beginning farmers in the local community.
AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN INC Farmer Business Services Program GA: Georgia Augusta Locally Grown (ALG) currently connects new and inexperienced urban farmers to a group entrepreneurial course to provide on‐site ag logistics and business coaching. Farmers will receive in‐depth, ag‐specific, individualized business training and opportunities to implement skills gained with immediate feedback.
GROW2ZERO FARMS Grow2Zero FARMS: Training Urban Farmers to Feed Long Beach CA: California Grow2Zero FARMS is located in West Long Beach, where it has established itself as a community resource since 2020 through its affordable neighborhood CSA and weekly free food distribution. Grow2Zero’s education team will expand its education curriculum by developing a hybrid online and in‐person urban farm training program for young adults in both Long Beach and the greater SoCal South Bay community.
FLINT RIVER FRESH INC. The School‐to‐Community Healthy Food Connection: Increasing Food Production and Access to Serve Communities of Need in Albany, Georgia GA: Georgia Flint River Fresh was formed to solve the issues of food access and lack of opportunity in Albany by bringing fresh, healthy food directly to the community and by guiding residents to self‐sufficiency and entrepreneurship through urban agriculture. This UAIP project will result in a new hydroponic greenhouse, a new grocery space in a low food‐access location, and expanded outreach and educational opportunities.
RIDGE TO REEFS, INC. Improving Food Security with Inoculated Deep Litter Piggeries and Innovative Production Methods in American Samoa AS: American Samoa This is an implementation project for increasing food production in small piggery operations in American Samoa (AS) using the emerging Inoculated Deep Litter System (IDLS) technology, and encouraging local egg/chicken production in deep litter or mobile systems. The project will also increase food production and access to local foods by installing demonstration High Tunnels and insect exclusion netting in public locations to encourage local use of these systems, and train producers how to create fertilizers and compost using local waste streams.
DUBUQUE, THE CITY OF (INC) Hydroponics to Home: Using Innovative Urban Agriculture to Educate and Feed the Community IA: Iowa The City of Dubuque plans to expand the work of their existing urban farms, to provide community education about food entrepreneurship opportunities and benefits of sustainable local food production, and to support the introduction of healthy and local foods in our existing corner stores. By adding a greenhouse and NFT Hydroponics system to a local urban farmstead, educational opportunities for all ages will be created, as well as hundreds of pounds of fresh produce grown and fed to the community year‐round.
UNITED COMMUNITY CENTERS INC East New York Farms! Project ‐ Urban Food Hub NY: New York The East New York Farms! Food Hub is a pilot program designed to increase fresh food production and availability in East New York, Brooklyn, while creating a circular urban agriculture‐based local economy benefiting a historically underserved and excluded BIPOC community. They work with local gardeners and youth to increase fresh food availability while stimulating the local economy.
BOSTON FARMS COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, INC. Boston Farms CLT's Strategic Planning Project MA: Massachusetts Boston Farms Community Land Trust (Boston Farms) turns vacant urban land into collective opportunity, supporting Black and Brown farmers to grow the food that sustains the neighborhoods of Mattapan, Dorchester, and Roxbury, with plans to expand into other areas in and around Boston over time.
DELAWARE NATION DELAWARE NATION LENAPE GARDENS EXPANSION OK: Oklahoma Install and utilize the integrated greenhouse/garden, orchard, and apiary facility located on Delaware Nation lands in the city of Anadarko, to produce fresh fruits, vegetables, and honey for tribal members. In addition, sell some of these products to consumers in the area at affordable prices, helping others gain access to fresh food while generating revenues to cover
ongoing costs at our production facilities.
THE CONSERVATION FUND, A NONPROFIT CORPORATION Growing Community Food Resources with the Working Farms Fund IL: Illinois This project addresses food insecurity and food access in a focal area of metro Chicago–South Cook County. This project will: build the foundation to activate additional farms and create a local network; provide affordable land access and support   quality jobs for entrepreneurial and socially‐diverse farmers; increase fresh produce supply through strategic investment in on‐farm infrastructure; and build new connections between the community residents, the food access support system, and the farms next door to strengthen food access and generate lasting health outcomes.
NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION Developing Partnerships and Education Resources to Increase Community Garden Prevalence, Productivity, and Skills to Address Healthy Foods Access and Food Insecurity
in 3 Northeastern Cities
MA: Massachusetts This project will lay the groundwork for addressing food insecurity by optimizing the development and productivity of community gardens in Hartford, Springfield, and Holyoke (Project Region). NOFA/Mass will expand new and existing partnerships with gardening and advocacy organizations in the Project Region and develop materials aimed at educating
residents and engaging youth on an extensive range of “climate‐smart” regenerative agriculture and gardening practices.
LORAIN, CITY OF (INC) Food Forward Lorain Initiative OH: Ohio Seeks to create, improve, and expand access to healthy food for economically distressed neighborhoods and families by
improving the urban agriculture landscape to support additional urban farming operations.
SOLA GRATIA FARM Community Farm Expansion for Enhanced Sustainable Fresh Food Production, Engagement and Consumption IL: Illinois This project will support long‐term ecological sustainability as proper investments allow us to mitigate and improve resiliency while addressing food insecurity. In addition to allow expansion of educational programming targeted onsite
outreach/education activities.
TILTH ALLIANCE Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Community Food Resources WA: Washington Provide free and discounted food to the local community and promote gardening and urban agriculture throughout the
community.
OKLAHOMA WOMEN IN AG ASSOCIATION National Women In Agriculture Urban Agriculture And Innovative Production Initiative OK: Oklahoma The proposed project addresses issues of transportation, affordability, and access to fresh, whole foods in these food desert communities. The project will initiate, build upon, and expand related work and programs  establishing and strengthening
existing partnerships.
NATIONAL CENTER FOR APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY INC, THE Keys to Starting and Managing Sustainable Urban Community Farms MS: Mississippi; AL: Alabama Our focus will be to train gardeners and community leaders on best garden management and production practices. Their efforts will then benefit the neighborhoods surrounding their garden projects by providing the communities with food, nutrition, beauty, and ecological services.
YOUTH MINISTRIES FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE INC Organizing, Advocacy, and Change Blueprint for Activating Underutilized Spaces for Agricultural Production in New York City NY: New York Through this program, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, Inc (YMPJ) proposes a city‐wide planning project for identifying underutilized public spaces and building a blueprint for how communities can activate those spaces for agricultural
production.
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON LULAC FOUNDATION LULAC Grows Urban Farm and Family Garden Incubator Groundwork and Food Sovereignty for Communities of Color WA: Washington Provide new and aspiring farmers access to farmland, infrastructure, cultivating tools, and growing supplies. We will cultivate
a greater abundance of crops desired by our communities, and innovate with a diverse array of culturally specific crops aligning with indigenous cultural heritage.
ZERO FOODPRINT Growing an Equitable, Climate Smart Foodshed in San Diego CA: California Accelerate the growth of local food system leader, Foodshed Inc (FSI). Conduct outreach to San Diego’s 7,800 restaurants and over 7,000 other food business owners to mobilize financial support for local, urban regenerative agriculture initiatives.
HEALTHY FUTURES, INC Enhancing and Empowering the Agricultural Skill Sets of Indigenous Farmers, Gardeners and Youth in New Mexico’s Native American Communities NM: New Mexico Healthy Futures will address the limited access to fresh, affordable, and nutritious food by two Native American communities in New Mexico, through agricultural technical assistance, and providing farm supplies and tools to enhance their greenhouses
and improve yields in their community gardens.
MILL CITY GROWS, INC. Ecology, Agriculture, Access, and Education at Pawtucketville Farm Wildlife Sanctuary MA: Massachusetts Integrate 20 acres into an expanded urban open space mosaic that connects with 1,100 acres of adjacent open space at the
Lowell‐Dracut‐Tyngsboro State Forest. This site will include space dedicated to urban agriculture and food production by historically disadvantaged producers and serve as a new food access point for the city.
TAMPA FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS, INC. USDA‐NRCS Urban Food Rx Community Garden Implementation‐Osborne FL: Florida Inform and educate residents by offering nutrition education such as food preparation, beginner, intermediate and advanced gardening lessons. The intentional conservation and reclamation design concept in the garden will contribute to a sustainable
use and management of natural resources.
FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION Growing Fayetteville: Catalyzing Resilient Local Food Systems and Innovative Urban Agricultural Partnerships AR: Arkansas Our goal is to field test urban agriculture workforce development pilot projects in 3 locations, with an estimated collective impact of approximately 10,000 unique engagements. Each urban agriculture pilot site will result in an organic teaching
garden, micro orchard, pollinator nursery, and food forest.
SENTLI: CENTER FOR REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE Improving food access in South Texas by facilitating urban farming through partnership in education, community engagement, policy, and urban food production. TX: Texas Increase the number of urban farms, increase access to local produce, and increase the application of climate smart practices and innovative technology among urban farmers.
CITY OF BIRMINGHAM City of Birmingham AL: Alabama We aim to resource Black producers, distributors, and other food value chain actors of color with the policies, platforms,
markets, and networks to both build wealth and supply Birmingham residents with the fresh foods they need to thrive.
CASPER COMMUNITY GREENHOUSE
PROJECT
Grow Casper: Developing Casper's Educational Farm WY: Wyoming Accelerate existing and emerging models of urban and season extension agricultural practices. Additionally, the GCEF will
expand educational opportunities for students, adult learners, and farmers beyond the current Farm‐to‐School Programs.
THE SOUTHERN DELTA CHURCH OF WICCA‐
ATC
Expansion of community garden and food pantry for supporting the local low income families. AR: Arkansas Community garden and food pantry expansion to provide food for the local community.
FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM, INC. Washington Youth Garden expansion to widen healthy food access for low‐income families and to increase urban agriculture education in Washington, DC. DC: District of Columbia Expand access to fresh fruits and vegetables for low‐income families with children in Wards 5, 7, and 8 of Washington, DC by 1) increasing the production and educational capacity of the Washington Youth Garden (WYG), 2) creating new produce distribution channels with wrap‐around nutrition and agriculture education activities at Friendship Collegiate and and Friendship Tech Prep.
RISEBORO COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP INC Bushwick Grows Community Farm NY: New York Establish Learning Center to increase the Farm’s output and reach to address climate change and food insecurity, through
increased food production, targeted education and community development in underserved communities providing free food distribution and education programs in Bushwick Brooklyn.

2021 Backlog Planning Projects

2021 Backlog Planning Projects
Project Type Organization Name Project Title State Project Summary
Planning Project Adelante Mujeres Washington County’s Regenerative Farm Build Out OR: Oregon Adelante Mujeres's project will encourage and promote urban agricultural practices with an eye towards racial equity. The goal is to directly impact the growth of the local food system in Washington County, Oregon by strengthening its urban regenerative agricultural practices and build a strategic and sustainable plan to continue its education and distribution opportunities to farmers.
Planning Project Brass City Harvest, Inc. Hydroponic Farm and Greenhouse Planning Project CT: Connecticut Brass City Harvest will address food insecurity, vocational training, and economic development in Waterbury, Connecticut's South End Neighborhood by designing and siting a greenhouse for hydroponic vine crops and creating a school-based curriculum to promote apprenticeship opportunities for students.
Planning Project City of Boston  City of Boston Urban Food Production Planning Grant MA: Massachusetts The City of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development (“DND”) will develop a municipal strategy for four key Boston neighborhoods with high rates of food insecurity. The plan will position the City to expand local food production in these areas. It will be developed with in-depth guidance from community stakeholders and in close consultation with producers and other municipal agencies. 
Planning Project City of Flagstaff Assessing and Growing a Sustainable Community Food System Project AZ: Arizona The City of Flagstaff will develop a Food Action Plan to guide City policy, programming, and investment in the local food system and urban agriculture opportunities.
Planning Project City of Tempe  Grow Local Tempe: Policies and Roadmaps to Expand UA for a Healthier and Happier Tempe AZ: Arizona The purpose of this project is to develop a framework in the City of Tempe to connect vulnerable residents to the benefits of urban agriculture, which include increased economic opportunity, nutrition, food security, and well- being. The grant will allow for a development of a holistic approach to city planning and professional development for urban agriculture.
Planning Project County of Durham  Feasibility study of Durham County Farm Campus NC: North Carolina Durham County aims to support a more resilient food system that systemically addresses the root causes of food insecurity by launching the next generation of farmers through increased access to land, infrastructure, and markets for new and beginning farmers, and fostering racial equity and development of generational wealth by centering Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) priorities in design and development. 
Planning Project Mariposa County Health and Human Services Agency Mariposa County Community Gardens CA: California The Mariposa County Community Gardens planning project will examine the correlation between poverty, low-income, and low-access food areas within the community and develop solutions to meet the needs through the planning of a community garden.
Planning Project County of Mecklenburg  Amay James Urban Agriculture Park NC: North Carolina The Amay James Urban Agriculture Park Planning Project will strive to address significant issues plaguing areas of Mecklenburg County, such as food deserts, socio-economic disparities, physical inactivity and the linked growing number of health-related issues. The planning project would master plan and urban agriculture park within Amay James Park for the primary benefit of surrounding area located within a food desert and experiencing significant poverty.
Planning Project Farmers Market of The Ozarks Noble Hill Community Supported Hydroponic Greenhouse MO: Missouri Noble Hill will promote local agriculture, and supply consumers, institutions, food desert residents and school lunch programs with fresh healthy produce. The recipient will work with community partners to demonstrate the benefits of local agriculture through innovation, business planning, economic development, municipal planning, training programs and internships.  
Planning Project Foodlink, Inc. A Master Plan: Cultivating Community & Innovation at the Foodlink Community Farm Campus NY: New York The goal of this project is to evaluate and redesign commercial and community growing spaces at Foodlink Community Farm to maximize community engagement, food production, and innovation.
Planning Project Green Beverly 107Q, Inc. North Shore Farm and Food Coalition to Promote Food Security and Careers in Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture MA: Massachusetts The overall goal of this North Shore Farm and Food Coalition (NSFFC) Planning Grant is to build collaboration among North Shore food, farming, educational and municipal partners to create a regional North Shore Urban Agriculture Plan (NSUAP) that expands the beginning farmer pipeline, identifies urban agriculture training and business development opportunities, expands food production capacity in and around urban areas, and increases local food security on the North Shore.
Planning Project Local First Arizona Foundation Growing Urban Ag in Maricopa County AZ: Arizona Local First Arizona Foundation will prepare a Growing Urban Ag in Maricopa County Toolkit that sets forth a framework and model language for urban food and farming-related land use policies that municipalities can tailor to their context and needs.  
Planning Project Texas Coalition of Rural Landowners Planning Proposal to establish an Equipment Sharing Cooperative for Small-Scale Vegetable Growers Servicing Low Food Access Markets in Harris County, Texas TX: Texas This project will fund a feasibility study and development of a business plan to establish and Equipment Sharing Cooperative among urban farmer who are committed to suppling fresh vegetables to low food access areas in Harris County Texas.  
Planning Project The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust The Bensley Agrihood Collaborative Planning Project VA: Virginia The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust is to utilize this project as an educational and mentorship opportunity for the girls and young women of Girls For A Change. The planning process will be an opportunity for them to build capacity in every phase of the work, through mentorships with the various participating organizations, as well as active leadership in the planning team. They will build skills in community engagement, site planning, environmental design, and market analysis.         
Planning Project The Well, Inc. WellFed Community: A culture-centered approach to incorporating food sovereignty in food security solutions FL: Florida This project will develop a Community-Based Food Sovereignty  Assessment and collaborate with the community to assess and address target areas based on food sovereignty ideals and practices; investigate the gaps in urban agriculture informed by the community; and create a strategic plan for successful sustainable implementation that increases community engagement.

2021 Backlog Implementation Projects

2021 Backlog Implementation Projects
Project Type Organization Name Project Title State Project Summary
Implementation Project Agricademy Inc. Agriplorers:  An Urban Agriculture Program for Socially Disadvantaged Youth in the Greater Cincinnati Tri-State Area OH: Ohio Agricademy will provide resources to incorporate and emphasize the importance of growing locally, developing a local food system in their communities, consuming nutritious food, and exposing students to careers and other opportunities in the agriculture industry. The primary goal of this project is to educate and mentor students about the agriculture industry to persuade them to pursue a career in the field.
Implementation Project Allen Neighborhood Center Hunter Park GardenHouse: Urban Community Farm Education And Production Innovation Hub MI: Michigan Allen Neighborhood Center will provide public exposure to urban agriculture and innovative production strategies through multi-faceted demonstration farm in well-trafficked public park. The project will provide increased food sovereignty through community training and resources.
Implementation Project Alpha Omega Veterans Services Proposed partnership to replicate AOVS Urban Farm's success on Memphis Tilth St. John Garden TN: Tennessee Alpha-Omega Veterans Services Urban Farm, a two-acre urban farm in South Memphis, will expand its original partnership with Memphis Tilth to increase food production for distribution in multiple food insecure neighborhoods in Memphis.
Implementation Project Americana Community Center Louisville Urban Agriculture Coalition: Leveraging Technology to Develop and Distribute Culturally Responsive Educational Content and Expanding Farmland Access for Urban Producers. KY: Kentucky Americana Community Center will increase education and outreach opportunities by ensuring agriculture resources for urban production are available to all growers, in an equitable way throughout the city. The project will also increase production of food crops within Louisville Metro at community gardens, urban farms, and backyard gardens. 
Implementation Project AsianWeek Foundation The Bayview Food Sovereignty Supply Chain Project of the Florence Fang Community Farm will form collaborative partnerships, educate the community, and address severe food insecurity. CA: California The Bayview Food Sovereignty Supply Chain Project (BV-FS-SCP) of the Florence Fang Community Farm (FFCF) will form collaborative partnerships, educate the community, and address severe food insecurity issues through the development of a transformative community food system to grow and distribute locally grown produce in the Bayview/Hunters Point (BVHP) district of San Francisco, the city’s most underserved neighborhood and a USDA certified food desert.  
Implementation Project Center of Southwest Culture, Inc. Sowing Health Through Micro-Gardening in Albuquerque’s Urban Communities NM: New Mexico The Center of Southwest Culture, Inc. will provide hands-on training on regenerative gardening methods to build the capacity of participants to garden in a manner that uses minimal inputs, conserves resources and money, and helps to increase consumption of healthy produce.
Implementation Project Central Iowa Shelter & Services From Storm Drains to Fertile Soil: Boosting Urban Food Security and Access While Helping Individuals Experiencing Homelessness by Turning Unused Drainage Space into Food Production Ground IA: Iowa This project seeks to increase food production by developing floating garden beds in once unusable water retention basin. Specifically targeting food insecurity in Des Moines for those experiencing homelessness by providing access to free and affordable healthy food as well as providing development of entrepreneurial skills and job training for those experiencing joblessness.
Implementation Project Chrysalis Center, Inc. Chrysalis Center Urban Roots Gardening Program CT: Connecticut The Chrysalis Center will expand agricultural production at their Urban Roots Hydroponics Grow Center and food forest. They will also educate the community on nutrition, agricultural production and provide hands-on training in gardening. 
Implementation Project City Green, Inc. New Ground Initiative in Passaic County, NJ NJ: New Jersey The New Ground Initiative will fully implement Regenerative Farming practices at the City Green Farm-Eco Center in Clifton, NJ, provide garden training on practices at community-based gardens across Passaic County, NJ, and deepen its agriculture commitment by launching a certificate-bearing Farm School for emerging farmers and urban gardeners statewide. 
Implementation Project City of Indianapolis Indy Urban Food Connect -The creation of an equitable and accessible food distribution system. IN: Indiana The Indy Urban Food Connect initiative would create a streamlined aggregation and distribution system for growers. The primary goal of this project is to establish infrastructure supporting an Indianapolis regional food hub.
Implementation Project City of Pine Bluff Arkansas City of Pine Bluff Seed to Table Community Garden AR: Arkansas The Seed to Table project will assist residents in learning how to increase food production in small urban and indoor spaces using emerging technology, will expand the current capacity of the local community garden to help educate the community on food systems, nutrition, environmental impacts and agricultural production offering hands-on training in farming and gardening and will provide schools with resources to incorporate and emphasize the importance of growing and consuming nutritious food.
Implementation Project City of Tampa  City of Tampa's Growing our Community Gardens and Education Initiative FL: Florida The purpose of this project is to create a network of community gardens and urban farms along with associated garden markets to aggregate and sell fresh produce, provide a free pantry.  At the same time, educational programs will continue to empower residents to grow their nutritious produce.
Implementation Project City Sprouts Inc. City Sprouts Community Farm: Urban Revitalization through Farming and Food NE: Nebraska City Sprouts Community Farm will address community needs by ensuring all members have equitable and adequate access to nutritious food. The food will be produced and distributed in ways that create a sustainable system that values workers, consumers, and the land. In addition, community members will develop knowledge and skills to grow, select, and prepare nutritious food to maximize resources through extensive educational opportunities for people of all ages.
Implementation Project The Clara White Mission, Inc. White Harvest Farms, Equity in Opportunities: Eliminating Food Deserts in Northwest Jacksonville FL: Florida The primary goal of this project is to increase the production of healthy fruits and vegetables, improve food access in this food desert community, and provide training and educational programming to the local residents on beginning and maintaining their own gardens for food production.
Implementation Project Columbia Center For Urban Agriculture Training Beginning and Minority Farmers at Columbia’s Agriculture Park MO: Missouri Through growing fresh local produce in Columbia's Agriculture Park, this project aims to empower the next generation of diverse urban farmers while also reducing  community food insecurity and health disparities. This project establishes an apprenticeship program at the Park for new and beginning farmer entrepreneurs by providing job training, mentoring, and business development assistance. 
Implementation Project Communities For Better Health Acres Homes: Sowing Seeds Community Agriculture Hub TX: Texas The purpose of the project is to provide equitable access to fresh produce in the City of Houston, Texas. The Acres Homes Sowing Seeds Agricultural Hub, located at the Bethune Empowerment Center, will be utilized as a centralized agricultural hub that will link and support farm and garden projects in the Acres Homes Community to close the food system gap, and address food insecurity, and offer capacity building to agricultural focused nonprofit organizations.
Implementation Project Community Crops Rebuilding Lincoln’s Local Foodshed for Community Resilience NE: Nebraska The project will improve and expand the number of community gardens and farms in this Lincoln, Nebraska and increase the integration of other innovations in agricultural production such as agroforestry and food forests, all while providing necessary educational opportunities for urban growers to help them be successful in these spaces.
Implementation Project Community Development Corporation of Oregon Capacity Building for BIPOC, Immigrant and Refugee Farmers in the Portland Metro Area OR: Oregon The Community Development Corporation Of Oregon will provide farm mentoring, business training, development of successful entrepreneurial projects, and distribution of healthy, fresh, and culturally appropriate food in low income and low food access areas which will serve immigrant and refugee communities in the Portland Metro area.
Implementation Project Corporacion Juvenil Para el Desarrollo de Comunidades Sosten The Cañaboncito Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production Program PR: Puerto Rico The Cañaboncito Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production Program will address the limited access to fresh and nutritious foods in the suburbs of Cañaboncito, Puerto Rico. The program will benefit socioeconomic disadvantaged new and beginning farmers, community members, students, and entrepreneurial producers from low-income communities by learning how to build viable and sustainable enterprises through educational training and technical support workshops, agritourism educational events, and hands-on training. 
Implementation Project Harris County, Texas  Harris County Precinct 4 Farm & Ranch Park Project TX: Texas The Harris County Precinct 4 Farm & Ranch Park Project will focus on low-income residents and veterans in the Tomball City and Spring City areas of Texas which constitute food deserts. The project will provide fresh produce grown on the Farm and Ranch Park to low-income residents and veterans, teach the target audience to grow their own produce, and teach the target audience better nutritional practices.
Implementation Project Kane County The Kane County Food and Agriculture Accelerator will support the growth of urban farms and agriculture technology companies, while improving local food access in Low-Income and Low-Access areas. IL: Illinois Kane County will facilitate a robust and diverse ecosystem of local food production that encourages alternative farming models and technologies, and provides resources to growers and sellers that allow them to flourish despite the development pressure faced in the County.
Implementation Project Cultivate Kansas City, Inc. Building Urban Agriculture Community and Capacity in Kansas City’s Urban Core MO: Missouri Cultivate Kansas City will improve the viability and safety of the urban farmers serving the urban core of Kansas City, Missouri while also increasing access to local food for all residents in the target area regardless of socio-economic status. They will serve as a resource to the community by building farm infrastructure that is accessible to nearby farms. In addition they will provide local growers programming, access to distribution channels and access to a meeting and gathering space.
Implementation Project EarthDance Increasing Participation at an Organic Farm School in Ferguson, MO MO: Missouri The project will combine community outreach with hands-on education and research to promote sustainable urban agriculture methods and increase access to locally grown produce.
Implementation Project Fertile Ground Environmental Institute Viveros Educational Farm OR: Oregon Viveros Educational Farm has a goal of increasing healthy food access in the diverse communities of East Palo Alto, through a diverse set of programs including aquaponic farming, donations of food, paid youth internships, and a volunteer-run, bike-powered fruit gleaning program.
Implementation Project Five Keys Schools and Program Ecological Agriculture Training (EAT) Cultural Center Develops Intensive, Small-Scale Urban Agriculture Businesses with Non-Traditional Farmers, Preserving Land & Increasing Food Access CA: California Five Keys Schools and Programs will accelerate an emerging model of urban agriculture practices that serves multiple farmers and improves access to local food.
Implementation Project Flanner House of Indianapolis, Inc. Black Farmers Unite to Eliminate Urban Food Desert IN: Indiana Flanner House of Indianapolis has the goal of providing programs that will introduce Agriculture and Healthy Eating to K-12 students, youth 16-24 years and adults in socially disadvantaged communities.  Expand supply and demand for healthy locally grown food by leveraging new technologies and linking rural farms to our urban food hub.
Implementation Project Foodchain, Inc. Bluegrass Urban Farm Friends: Get BUFF! KY: Kentucky This project will combine aquaponics and traditional outdoor gardening to provide year round urban agriculture education, get more youth managing and designing their own growing spaces and provide educators with urban agriculture training to support curriculum.
Implementation Project Franklinton Gardens Columbus Community Grower Innovation Network OH: Ohio This project will support hiring a shared volunteer coordinator and apprenticeship coordinator for it network of Community Gardens to advance their farm infrastructure, increase production, increase urban agriculture workforce and increase community engagement.  The network will share farm implements, majors assets, pool volunteer resources and host paid apprentices.
Implementation Project Frazier Revitalization, Inc. Implementation of an Innovative Apprentice Urban Farmer Training Program in Conjunction with an Existing Urban Community Production Farm, Developing a Agricultural HUB TX: Texas This agreement will make a significant difference to the economic and nutritional health of the local South Dallas community as the catalyst that permits a fundamental paradigm shift, from receiving aid from external third parties engaging in philanthropic gardening to the local development of a thriving and economically feasible local urban Agri-business run by local professional farmers.
Implementation Project Golden Triangle RC&D Entrepreneurial Small Business Development and Training Assistance for New and Beginning Urban Farmers Using Innovative Growing Options GA: Georgia Golden Triangle RC&D (Recipient) will increase food production and facilitate entrepreneurial business development assistance for new and beginning farmers to provide resources, mentorship, marketing, training, innovative urban practices for vertical tower and hydroponic growing systems along with Farm to Table demonstrations.
Implementation Project Grow Dat Youth Farm  Grow Dat Youth Farm: Mobile Food Access Expansion Project LA: Louisiana This is a Mobile Food Access Expansion Project that will respond to the unhealthy relationship to local food systems experiences by young adults in New Orleans by expanding access to affordable, culturally relevant, nutrient-rich foods; facilitating access to land so communities can grow their own foods; and promoting community control of local food systems.
Implementation Project Grow It Forward Inc. Grow It Forward Community Food Center's Grow It More Project WI: Wisconsin The Grow It More project will increase food production and improve access to local healthy food, establish an urban agriculture training program that provides education and hands-on training, and expand the capacity of the existing hydroponic farm, community garden and greenhouse, and recently donated 4.5 acre uncultivated land to ensure self-sustainability.
Implementation Project Growing Places Indy Grow Getters: Next-Gen Urban Farmer Training Program IN: Indiana This Implementation Project entitled Grow Getters: Next-Gen Urban Farmer Training Program will help accelerate the existing program, which currently serves 100 farmers and gardeners annually. It will not only facilitate the development of entrepreneurial projects by offering needed resources such as job training, land access, equipment, mentoring, and other business development assistance to new and beginning farmers; it will also expose the program participants to emerging agriculture technologies including hydroponics. 
Implementation Project HABESHA, Inc. HABESHA Urban Agriculture Network GA: Georgia This project seeks to leverage the Urban Agriculture Network to develop a coordinated effort to galvanize these sites and strengthen their capacity by improving infrastructure and broadening support within the network to coordinate and plan the distribution of food cooperatively.
Implementation Project Mercy Corps Proyecto de Agricultura Urbana Participativa (AGRUPAR) OR: Oregon This project will address the root causes of food insecurity and related health inequities while providing immediate food access to marginalized urban communities through the provision of technical knowledge, material support, and increased social cohesion. The urban farming concept within this program is not intended to generate income as its initial objective; it aims to provide the community with a supplementary source of food, especially vegetables and herbs, increase consumption of nutritious vegetables, and increase the supply of vegetables for urban neighborhoods, and reduce the dependence on imports. 
Implementation Project Milwaukee Board of School Directors Grown in Milwaukee, For Milwaukee WI: Wisconsin The Grown in Milwaukee project will include and connect students, families, staff, and community surrounding eight MPS schools.  All schools involved in the project will be using self-contained vertical hydroponic systems to provide educational opportunities and produce fresh local food.
Implementation Project MoKa Urban Agriculture Initiative Urban agricultural expansion via community gardens and nonprofit farms to educate a community on food systems, nutrition, environmental impacts, and sustainable agriculture MO: Missouri This project aims to increase access to local food and provide culturally relevant options that also create economic opportunities for urban farmers. By inviting Keep Growing Detroit's network of urban farmers to learn about urban agroforestry and the production of fruit and nut crops, this project is designed to reduce food insecurity, improve health and environmental outcomes, and establish outdoor spaces for fruit and nut crop production   
Implementation Project Native American Community Academy Foundation Sustainable Indigenous Agriculture for Urban Youth NM: New Mexico This project will work with 450 students over three year and their families to increase food production in small urban and indoor spaces, with an emphasis on improving access to locally produced fresh, healthy foods and increasing local production outside of these two community garden settings, by promoting at-home urban gardening. This three-year program at NACA will integrate emerging technologies, such as hydroponics, to produce food; utilize water catchment barrels to preserve precious freely available resources for gardening; and reduce waste through a comprehensive school composting program to enhance nutrients in the soil of gardens (when and where soil is used). 
Implementation Project New York Restoration Project Urban Grower-to-Grower Knowledge Exchange & Training NY: New York This project will provide training to experienced gardeners to teach and share their knowledge; hosting a 6 week series that teaches novice gardeners fundamental urban farming techniques; and supporting urban growers through workshops and other forms of technical assistance.  Each activity strengthens community among urban growers while training individuals to be urban growing mentors.
Implementation Project Nixa Public Schools Future of Growing for Improved Food Access in Southwest Missouri MO: Missouri This project will provide for an expansive aeroponics tower farm consisting of 125 11-ft. towers, outdoor raised beds, and outdoor classroom, and native plant area.  The tower farm will enable university students to learn about this innovative farming process, and supply the nearby food pantry with fresh produce to increase food access and improve nutrition for residents in Southwest Missouri.
Implementation Project Out of the Garden Project Scaling up the Urban Teaching Farm: Expanding Production Through Season Extension, Tiered Internships, and Mobile Distribution. NC: North Carolina The primary goals of the Out of the Garden project are to increase access to healthy and affordable food and promote educational opportunities in low-access and low-income areas of Greensboro, North Carolina
Implementation Project Peacehaven Farm, Inc. Peacehaven Farm, Communities Growing Together Implementation Project NC: North Carolina Peacehaven Farm will expand vocational training to equip participants with the skills they need to overcome employment challenges they face as adults with disabilities and improve food access by increasing production using hydroponic technology.      
Implementation Project Phillips Programs SpringForward™: Use of Urban Indoor Agriculture to create a sustainable employment model and deliver fresh foods to Healthy Food Priority Areas in Baltimore City, MD VA: Virginia PHILLIPS Programs will create an innovative workforce development solution called SpringForward™. SpringForward™ will be a self-sustaining greenhouse operation whose mission is to pioneer a replicable employment and business model that enable young adults to find and keep high quality jobs with fair pay, an ownership stake, and a voice in business decisions.
Implementation Project Region Five Development Commission ACRE Day: AgriCulture Rural Exploration Day MN: Minnesota This project will incite innovation in agriculture, provide agricultural internships, increase access to local food, and expand marker access and therefore economic livelihood for small farmers. R5DC will work with regional public schools located in food deserts including multiple middle and high schools, to expand access to local food, educate communities about farming, and foster community engagement.
Implementation Project Rural South Institute Huntsville-Madison Urban Gardens Education Network AL: Alabama Rural South Institute will empower urban youths and low income/limited access households and help them choose healthier food options, operate their own gardens, and become skilled agricultural entrepreneurs. 
Implementation Project South Side Farms  Southside Farm Aquaculture Project MO: Missouri South Side Farms will  improve food access for those in South Cape Girardeau, a Federally-designated food desert, by creating a self-sustaining aquaculture program.
Implementation Project School District of The City Of Erie  Building Erie's Agri-Culinary Pathway PA: Pennsylvania This project will expand Erie School District's Farm to School program and accelerate the food sovereignty work of Groundwork Erie.
Implementation Project Soil Born Farm Urban Agriculture Project Edible City Initiative: Activating Sacramento’s Urban Food Production CA: California This project is aimed squarely at activating a massive grassroots movement of urban agriculturalists who collectively will help create a local food system that is productive, inclusive, educational and equitable.  This will be accomplished by providing educational training, hands on training and access to tools and supplies for home, community, school gardens and small farm growers.
Implementation Project South End Neighborhood Group Inc. Food Everyone Desire (FED) AR: Arkansas This project will install a high tunnel that will be utilized to grow fresh vegetables and fruit year round as well as create learning opportunities for low income residents, senior citizens, school aged children and the surrounding community on how to grow and prepare the fresh foods.
Implementation Project Texas Health Research and Education Institute Texas Health Towers to Tables Expansion Program TX: Texas The Towers to Tables Expansion program will improve access to local food by increasing fresh food production and distribution at two garden locations with the city, expanding nutrition and food systems education to Bridgetown students and the larger community, and providing hands-on training in emerging agriculture techniques.
Implementation Project The Farm School at Gibbs Road Inc. Growing Common Ground: Land and Resources for Public Education, Urban Agritourism, Community Empowerment and Food Security KS: Kansas This project will develop Common Ground, an 11 acre urban farm, into a land access source including the development of a community urban farm, increased food production, resource sharing through stakeholder involvement, and mentorship opportunities and to engage community members in public agricultural education opportunities including place-making agritourism, hands-on training, youth STEAM education and community roundtables in order to educate a community on food systems, nutrition, sustainability, urban agroforestry, food forests, and food production. 
Implementation Project The Friends of Atlanta Urban FFBMCC The Friends of Atlanta Urban Food Forest Extension Program GA: Georgia This project will leverage agriculture, food production, and nutrition to improve health, safety, job opportunities, and sustainability of the community, helping to eliminate hunger and empower families to become self sufficient withing the community. Through this project 10 gardens and 3aquaponic stations will be added, producing approximately 1400 pounds of food in the 2 year period.
Implementation Project The Giving Grove Little Orchards, Big Impact: Growing an Urban Orcharding Network in Detroit MO: Missouri This project will provide education, training, access to plant material and support for urban fruit and nut tree production in Detroit, Michigan. Ultimately, this project seeks to increase access to local food, reduce food insecurity, support food sovereignty, and create employment opportunities for Detroit residents.
Implementation Project Trellis for Tomorrow Our Food, Our Future: Closed Loop Food Systems for Pottstown and Phoenixville, PA. PA: Pennsylvania This project will explain on existing successful efforts of the recipient and it's partners to improve food justice and food system sustainability by developing closed loop food systems in two urban clusters with high percentages of people facing food insecurity and inadequate access to healthy food.  The goal is to improve access to fresh, chemical-free, nutrient dense produce for residents living in these urban areas by creating a foundation for more sustainable and equitable food system.
Implementation Project U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants/Erie Field Office Flagship Farms Fusion Growers PA: Pennsylvania This project will address the needs and common barriers faced by refugee and immigrant farmers face with an interest in growing familiar foods not found in standard grocery stores.  A parking lot will be transformed into a teaching garden.  The project will provide education and innovative growing resources in a unique urban teaching garden, enabling participants to enhance their food security, health, and income.
Implementation Project Upstate Circle of Friends Upstate Circle of Friends Minority Urban Farmer Education Center SC: South Carolina This project will develop the UCF Minority Urban Farmer Education Center as a teaching center involving youth and local residents to increase access to affordable healthy food for low income minority families in need.  Increase awareness of the benefits of consuming healthy and nutritious food choices through urban agriculture education cooking events. Provide on-farm education and workforce development, community and home garden workshops. 
Implementation Project Van Cortlandt Park Alliance, Inc. VCPA's Garden & Compost Site Renovation NY: New York This project will renovate a garden and compost site to increase the amount of growing space, increase production and donate more produce.  The garden will have ADA accessible garden beds, flexible outdoor classroom/meeting space, and make the site more visible and welcoming to the community.
Implementation Project Western Reserve Land Conservancy Woodhill Community Garden - Expanding Community Garden Accessibility in Cleveland's Buckeye-Woodhill Neighborhood OH: Ohio The Western Reserve Land Conservancy project will improve the accessibility and functionality of the Woodhill Community Garden through installation of several new features including raised beds, ADA accessible walkway, compost bin and irrigation systems, as well the purchase of communal gardening tools.  The site will also include a plaza for educational demonstrations and community gatherings within the garden. 
Implementation Project YWCA Metropolitan Chicago YWCA Metropolitan Chicago: Y Women Grow Hydroponics Urban Farm IL: Illinois This project will enable urban farm production and student workshops to operate year-round; increases access to affordable, fresh produce in Woodlawn; and increase knowledge about nutrition and making healthy food choices.  This accomplished by purchasing a 500 sq. ft. shipping container that has been converted into a smart hydroponics farming unit. 

2021 Planning Projects

This is a complete list of the 2021 urban agricultural grant recipients and their project summaries.

2021 Planning Projects

Organization Name

State

Project Name

Project Description

American Farmland Trust New York Growing the Landscape for Urban Farmers in Oneida County, NY American Farmland Trust will leverage and add to existing research and on-the-ground partnerships to examine the state of farmland and pathways to access for new generation urban farmers. The project will assess the potential demand of new and emerging urban farmers seeking farmland, assess the potential supply of farmland from non-operating landowners, and recommend strategies that support local food system development by supporting land access for urban farmers and subsequently avoiding further conversion of farmland away from production.
Community Alliance with Family Farmers California Growing Urban Agriculture: A Roadmap to the Future of Urban Ag in CA In partnership with a dozen regional organizations and farmer leaders in six different city centers across California, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers will improve urban agriculture across California by creating opportunities for urban farmers to connect both regionally and statewide, increasing their access to mutual resources, knowledge, and tools as well as create discussion around a collective vision for urban agriculture and barriers farmers face.
County of Coconino Arizona Terra BIRDS Summer Expansion Program In collaboration with project partners representing small farms, community gardens, schools, hunger relief centers, and local Native American groups, the County of Coconino will develop, implement, and refine a model for community and culturally connected agriculture education to increase engagement in the local food system and increase food security for resident populations in need.
The Refugee Response Ohio Opportunities for Community Urban Land Use Study The Refugee Response will conduct a study to detail how Irish Town Bend will alter the physical landscape of the farm, and examine possibilities for how Ohio City Farm can capitalize on changes to increase farm production and income. Options examined will include an expansion of our event offerings; an orchard; a farmers market for refugee vendors; and setting aside a plot as a community garden.
Growing Gardens Oregon Community Greenhouse Feasibility Study- Growing Together, Uniting Our Communities with Living Wage Greenhouse Jobs, Education and Production Growing Gardens will create a feasibility study to identify opportunities to meet community needs for healthy, affordable, culturally-appropriate food through building one or more greenhouses.
West Michigan Environmental Action Council Michigan Freedom Farm Collective: Reducing Food Insecurity through Community Engagement in Grand Rapids, MI The West Michigan Environmental Action Council will form the Freedom Farm Collective to provide resources specifically for residents that are prone to food injustice, racial injustice and/or lack adequate access to green space as well as engage these neighbors through experiential education, food access, neighborhood based programming and increasing access to community resources such as growing equipment and agricultural knowledge. The collective will work to inform local urban agriculture policy along with the City of Grand Rapids Urban Agriculture Committee and the National Young Farmers Coalition to reflect a more sustainable and dynamic approach to how municipalities can leverage underutilized assets to positively impact their most vulnerable communities and empower the next generation of growers.
Tampa Family Health Centers Florida Urban Community Garden-Food Rx/Planning Project Urban Community Garden-Food Rx will address the underlying issue of food insecurity contributing to chronic health conditions affecting disadvantaged and underserved residents. In partnership with Whitwam Organics and other grass roots efforts, the Tampa Family Health Center Community Garden will build a garden for patients and the community.
The Morton Arboretum Illinois Collaborative Planning and Assessment for Community Growth through Urban Agriculture in Waukegan, IL The Morton Arboretum will find ways to strengthen the local food economy through collaborations with key stakeholders to determine specific needs and gauge the feasibility of implementing food forests at various community sites across Waukegan.
Fresh Approach California Community-Centered Urban Agriculture Assessment Plan for the City of East Palo Alto, CA This project will develop a comprehensive urban agriculture assessment plan for the city of East Palo Alto. Fresh Approach will evaluate current assets (land access, job training, and business opportunities, innovation, and food access resources) and set goals and priorities for enhancing them by incorporating the knowledge and experience of community-based organizations, as well as the needs and attitudes of local businesses and community members toward urban agriculture and healthy food access.
Newburgh Urban Farm and Food New York Developing a Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Plan for the City of Newburgh, NY Newburgh Urban Farm and Food will bring together representatives from the traditional (government, grant-funded initiatives) and non-traditional (residents, community advocates/groups, churches and temples) sectors of the community to build a sustainable food system that will deliver food security for all residents while generating long-term economic, social, and environmental sustainability now and for future generations.

2021 Implementation Projects

2021 Implementation Projects

Organization Name

State

Project Name

Project Description

Engaged Community Offshoots Maryland A New Farmer Incubator for Prince George’s ECO City Farms and its partners seek to facilitate the development of entrepreneurial projects by over-coming the barriers to entry for new and beginning urban farmers through developing and expanding markets, increasing competition, and making readily-farmable land available to aspiring growers.
Teens for Food Justice New York Teens for Food Justice, Rockaway Peninsula Hydroponic Farm Program Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ)’s seeks to encourage and promote broad public support to accelerate the expansion of school-based hydroponic farm programs in partnership with the NYC Department of Education (NYCDOE), local schools and nonprofits, and to improve equitable access to healthy, affordable food across the Rockaway Peninsula, a food desert community.
International Rescue Committee California Promoting Leadership, Agriculture, and Newcomer Training (PLANT) Project International Rescue Committee will scale up current school garden capacity with the overarching goal of providing a significant amount of diverse fresh food for distribution and educational activities that will benefit the entire community.
Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to Youth Florida Healthy Food Homestead Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to Youth will work to build upon the foundation of the highly successful Youth Engagement in Sports (YES) program at two charter schools in Homestead, Florida to increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, decrease intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, and take part in daily activities to increase physical activity.
H.O.P.E for Small Farm Sustainability Texas Community Garden Initiative for At-Risk Youth of Texas H.O.P.E for Small Farm Sustainability will collaborate with Mesquite Residential Treatment Center (MTC) to offer sustainable agricultural training and experience to underserved populations.
Knox Parks Foundation Connecticut Expanding Food Production through Innovative Urban Agricultural Trainings and Greenhouse Upgrades KNOX Parks Foundation provides underemployed, beginning farmers with land, training, mentoring, and connections to enter careers as farmers in the agricultural industry or start their own farming businesses through our Urban Farming Program. This project will expand participants’ growing space by repairing and upgrading four greenhouses for year-round use and work alongside participants to implement urban farming solutions that maximize the crop yield of smaller spaces
Jones Valley Urban Farm Alabama Jones Valley Teaching Farm Good Community Food Jones Valley Urban Farm is expanding its' Good Community Food Program, a new citywide education and training initiative designed to promote the growth of urban growers, community gardens and strengthen the local food system in Birmingham, Alabama.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County California Second Harvest Urban Solutions Farm Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County will significantly increase the nutritious produce in the food/nutrition deserts of Orange County and their existing pantry network by building their capacity. The 2,080,000 pounds of produce grown annually at Second Harvest Urban Solutions Farm will be added to their robust sourcing stream, helping to bridge the gap into areas where fresh produce is limited or unavailable.
Technical Assistance Partnership of Arizona Arizona Urban Food Oasis Opportunity Zone The Urban Food Oasis Opportunity is an agri-landscape project developed by TigerMountain Foundation which will be used as a rejuvenation tool for South Phoenix by creating a robust urban farming industry, healthier residents, and a flourishing economic outlook.
Consortium for Hawai'i Ecological Engineering Education Hawaii Māla Kūpono Project The Consortium for Hawai'i Ecological Engineering Education is implementing school/community gardens that will provide K-12 students with fresh food and a learning platform for STEM, agriculture/sustainability, culture, and healthy eating. This project aims to increase students’ academic success and meet their immediate basic health needs, while also re-energizing interest in agriculture/sustainability and its important role in the lives of the Hawaiian community.
Grow Ohio Valley West Virginia Big Wheeling Agrarian Center Grow Ohio Valley will utilize the Big Wheeling Agrarian Center (BWAC) as a training and demonstration farm to support new and aspiring urban farmers in innovative farming methods and entrepreneurship tailored to their goals and community needs.

2020 Planning Projects

This is a complete list of the 2020 urban agricultural grant recipients and their project summaries.

2020 Planning Projects

Organization Name

State

Project Name

Project Description

City of New Haven

Connecticut

The New Haven Urban Agriculture Master Plan - Creating a Blueprint for Equitable Urban Agricultural Growth in New Haven, Conn.

The city’s Food System Policy Division will develop the first New Haven Urban Agriculture Master Plan. The plan will be used to access land and opportunities to increase the production and sale of locally grown foods, build community, improve public health and well-being, and provide economic opportunity, particularly in areas with vacant land and limited food access.

Center for Land-Based Learning

California

Urban Agriculture Assessment and Recommendations: Connecting Urban Farmers with Broderick/Bryte Community to Improve Community Food Access, Nutrition Education, and Economic Development

The Center for Land-Based Learning will produce a comprehensive urban agriculture assessment of West Sacramento. It will map and document current activities, identify opportunities for growth, and include recommendations to bolster the layers of positive impact urban agriculture has on communities.

Feast Down East

North Carolina

Community Learning Farm Planning Project

 

The project supports a strategic planning process, including a feasibility study and stakeholder assessment, for the development of a community learning farm. A site development plan that will create community access and opportunities will also be created for the both the physical site and form programming.

2020 Implementation Projects

2020 Implementation Projects

Organization Name

State

Project Name

Project Description

NY Sun Works

 

New York

 

Urban Hydroponic Agriculture in NYC Public School Classrooms

 

NY Sun Works will work with Brooklyn public schools: three elementary, three middle schools, and three high schools. The project will implement a year-round urban farming program, integrate a hands-on urban farming program into school curricula, launch a Harvest program to engage the greater community, and create a hands-on hydroponic farming job training certification program at the high schools.

Association of Africans Living in Vermont

 

Vermont

 

New Farms for New Americans: Improving Lands, Improving Lives

New Farms for New Americans provides garden plots to approximately 70 households on five acres of leased land to support food production and community building for new Americans facing food insecurity and chronic health issues. The project will build upon the existing garden infrastructure to improve local food access, offer a 48-week agriculture program for refugee farmers focusing on food systems and nutrition, and establish a leadership/mentorship program with the Vermont Community Garden Network. Over 250 people of multiple ages, over seven languages and five ethnic groups will be reached.

Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light

Arkansas

Building a Network of Growers to Improve Access to Local Food

Arkansas Interfaith Power and Light will collaborate with partners to improve access to local food, foster a network of urban gardeners and farmers who share resources and knowledge, assist local growers with building infrastructure, expand and improve community gardens to become self-sustainable, educate the community on food systems and the nutritional value of plant-rich diets, share knowledge of environmental benefits of local agricultural production, offer hands-on learning in organic farming, mentor youth and young adults interested in urban agricultural occupations, and engage more people in local food production.

Famicos Foundation

Ohio

Grow Glenville

Famicos Foundation works to improve lives in greater Cleveland through neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing, and integrated social services. The project will reinvigorate the garden at the Michael R. White STEM School using emerging technologies to produce healthy, fresh food for area residents, provide a STEM education opportunity, offer jobs to local youth, and generate income at Famicos’ Gateway 105 Market.

The Greenleaf Foundation

Georgia

Eastside Hyper-Local Food System Project

Greenleaf Community Farm serves as a hub for connecting and supporting entrepreneurial food projects and closing the food system gap in Atlanta City Council District 5. The project includes a community farm, a payflex farm stand, and a community gathering space to connect and educate residents. It will also expand the Edible Neighborhoods program to provide equitable access to fresh produce, educate residents on edible landscaping, and serve as an entry point into the food system.

Common Ground Producers and Growers

Kansas

Common Ground Urban Innovation Project

The Common Ground Mobile Market will provide fresh produce to food deserts and food insecure areas in targeted urban zip codes in Wichita and Sedgwick Counties. The project will facilitate entrepreneurial projects through job training, use of farm equipment and land, mentoring and other business development assistance to new and beginning farmers. The mobile market will partner with the K-State Extension Growing Growers program, which provides an apprentice to help with the market and offer training in farming and gardening.

Parkside Business & Community in Partnership

New Jersey

 

The Camden Urban Agriculture Leadership Pipeline Project

The project will build a “pipeline” of programs that guide residents of the low-income, low food-access City of Camden on a pathway from resident, to gardener, to farmer, and eventually to community urban agriculture leader. The project will facilitate entrepreneurial projects by offering apprenticeships that will provide job training, equipment, business skills, leadership training, and mentoring; educate the community garden hubs using an existing network of nonprofit-run gardens and farms; and assist food producers and community organizations with policies that enable urban agriculture to thrive.