USDA Opportunities
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Two more weeks to apply! OUAIP’s Composting and Food Waste Reduction program supports local governments, schools, and tribes in developing innovative, scalable waste management plans that reduce and divert food waste from landfills and test strategies for municipal composting and food waste reduction efforts. Projects can be in communities of all sizes. Apply by Sept. 4, 2024.
- USDA and Northeast Regional Food Business Center Technical Assistance Provider Sub-Awards is open to providers who offer guidance and training to local producers and food and farm businesses, or to create or expand regional or sub-regional networks of technical assistance providers. Apply by Aug. 23, 2024. (new)
- U.S. Forest Service is awarding up to $300,000 to qualified organizations to facilitate, coordinate, and manage a collaborative and comprehensive process for the development of the National Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan Ten-Year Action Plan (2027-2037). Apply by Sept. 13th, 2024. (new)
- Rural Development’s Rural Energy for America Program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Apply by Sept. 30, 2024.
- USDA and the Heartland Regional Food Business Center is making available over $3.7 million to farm and food businesses in first round of Business Builder Grants. Apply by Oct. 15, 2024. (new)
- Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Organic Certification Cost Share Program provides cost share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products who are obtaining or renewing their certification under the National Organic Program. Apply by Oct. 31, 2024.
- FSA’s Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program is now open to small and medium-sized businesses. Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. Apply by Jan. 31. 2025.
Farm Loan Updates
- FSA announced changes to how they administer farm loan programs that will benefit urban and innovative producers. These changes include flexible repayment terms, reduced loan security requirements, and the introduction of a Low-Interest Installment Set-Aside Program. Read more about the changes and how they might benefit your operation. (new)
Additional Opportunities
- U.S. Department of Interior Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program can provide financial support for federally recognized Tribal Nations and authorized Tribal organizations to address current and future climate change impacts on Tribal Treaty and Trust resources, economies, regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty, conservation practices, infrastructure, and human health and safety. Apply by Oct. 18, 2024. (new)
- Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Healthy Communities Grant Program for New England works directly with communities to reduce environmental risks to protect and improve human health and the quality of life. Apply by Nov. 1, 2024. (new)
- EPA’s Community Change Grants Program supports environmental and climate justice activities. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Apply by Nov. 21, 2024.
USDA Highlights
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Agricultural Marketing Service in partnership with Cornell Small Farms Program and Rooted have launched the Promise of Urban Agriculture courses for growers and planners. These courses provided critical information for building and supporting successful commercial farms. Registration is free until Jan. 24, 2025, after which participants will be charged a nominal fee.
- It was great seeing so many growers, educators, and partners at the The overwhelming interest, enthusiasm, ideas, and relationships developed at the conference are a signal to the nation that the urban agriculture movement is wanted and needed. A special thanks to the USDA Farm Service Agency for sponsoring the event and the committee who planned the conference including but not limited to Virginia State University, Small Farms Outreach Program, Virginia Tech, Cornell University, Time Inc., and USDA staff across the department.
- Join the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the National Agricultural Library, and Land-Grant University Administrators on Sept. 9, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET for Leveraging Extension and University Engagement: Developing and Implementing Novel Projects Using Transdisciplinary Approaches. The series will examine strategies for implementing transdisciplinary approaches, team-building and overcoming challenges to encourage the adoption of and training in transdisciplinary systems to address the complex challenges facing food and agricultural systems today. Register.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the 2023 Milestones Report for Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions. The report highlights actions and impacts by twenty-five 2030 Champions – food businesses that have committed to halving food loss and waste in their operations by 2030.
People’s Garden Initiative
Somerville’s committee members in front of their Little Seed Library. Photo Credit: Erin Treanore.
Staff Farm Visits
Here are a few highlights of the latest OUAIP staff farm visits:
Top left: Florence Fang Community Garden; Top Right: USDA; Bottom left: Center for Land Based Learning and USDA; Bottom right: Soil Born Farms and USDA.
- In July, Brian Guse, OUAIP Director traveled to central California to visit Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grants, People’s Gardens, and Composting and Food Waste Reduction recipients. USDA Urban Service Center staff joined him to meet with Soil Born Farms and the Center for Land-Based Learning (Sacramento) and Teddy Fang of the Florence Fang Community Garden (San Francisco). Each project is providing a unique approach to solving food security concerns, evident during the site visits. Thanks to all the recipients and partner organizations who graciously hosted USDA.
 Top left: Adelante Mujeres; Top Right: Oregon Rockwood; Bottom left: Sentli; Bottom right: YWCA of Chicago.
In Case You Missed It
What We’re Reading
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