USDA Announces Recipients of Urban Agriculture Grants and Cooperative Agreements
Establishing the Secretary’s Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture, which will be announced later this fall.
USDA
Oct. 5, 2021
Excerpt:
Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the selection of recipients for more than $6.6 million in grants and cooperative agreements through the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. These grants and cooperative agreements build on $4.1 million in projects funded in 2020.
“As the People’s Department, USDA is committed to assisting all facets of agriculture, including operations in our cities,” said Ron Alvarado, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist in Oregon.
“These projects nourish communities with fresh, healthy food; teach generations the joy and fulfillment of farming and partnerships; and produce environmental benefits by reducing food waste and creating compost that can be used in a variety of farming operations,” said Josh Hanning, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting State Executive Director in Oregon.
Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Competitive Grants
The Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants Program supports a wide range of activities through two grant types, which are Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. Activities include operating community gardens and nonprofit farms, increasing food production and access in economically distressed communities, providing job training and education and developing business plans and zoning.
USDA is awarding $4.75 million for 10 Planning Projects and 11 Implementation Projects. In Oregon, Growing Gardens is the Planning Project grant recipient. Growing Gardens is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that started in Portland, Oregon in 1996. Growing Garden’s vision is for everyone to have equal access to healthy food and to be stewardesses of our own communities through sharing of resources, educating each other, and learning new skills. Learn more about Growing Gardens here offsite link image.
