|
USDA and the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) assist urban, small-scale, and innovative producers with growing, processing and selling. We provide technical and financial assistance for a variety of growing operations, including community farms and gardens, rooftop, indoor, and vertical farms, and hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic facilities. |
|
-
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Appalachia Regional Food Business Center are making available $3.32 million in Business Builder subawards to support food and farm business development, market access, and processing, aggregation, and distribution infrastructure. Apply by Nov. 1, 2024.
-
National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program has approximately $4.8 million available to fight food insecurity through developing community food projects that promote self-sufficiency of communities. Apply by Nov. 7, 2024.
-
Farm Service Agency (FSA) 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.
|
|
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Open Opportunities:
-
Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grants for Communities and Tribes and Intertribal Consortia help build a circular economy, improve local post-consumer materials management programs, and make improvements to local waste management systems. Community Grants apply by Dec. 20, 2024; Tribes and Intertribal Consortia apply by March 14, 2025.
|
|
  A meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production was held on Oct. 23, 2024 and minutes will be posted on the Committee’s webpage soon. Written comments can be submitted via email at: UrbanAgricultureFederalAdvisoryCommittee@usda.gov by Nov. 6, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. The Committee is managed by the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production and was established through the 2018 Farm Bill and is part of a broad USDA investment in urban agriculture.
|
|
-
National Urban Agriculture Initiative Detroit conference materials are now available.
-
Join the 2024 National Agricultural Marketing Summit, Nov. 13-15, 2024, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The summit provides a unique networking opportunity for agricultural marketing practitioners to form new partnerships and learn new business strategies that can improve the performance of their farms and businesses.
-
Local and Regional Foods Resources & Research webinar series, a monthly webinar series highlighting local and regional foods research projects, resources, partnerships, and programs. The webinars will be held on the third Thursday of each month from 1 to 2 p.m. ET.
- USDA Invests $9 Million in 10 Organizations Nationwide to Support Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.
- USDA Announces Additional $250 Million in Financial Assistance for Distressed Farm Loan Borrowers.
- USDA Invests $1.7 Billion to Support Farmers, Deliver Nutrition Assistance, and Bolster Rural Economies.
- Learn about a USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities recipient in Homegrown: Building A Local, Resilient Food System.
|
|
 
Leslie Glover, OUAIP attended a diversity of events showcasing the breadth of urban agriculture and innovative production activities across the DC Metro Area and beyond:
-
The Regional Food Business Centers Cooperator's Meeting was held at Gallaudet University in Washington DC, Oct. 7-8, 2024. The event brought together a nationwide network of food system changemakers. The event consisted of a series of panels, breakout discussions, and group share outs to learn more about each Center and its stakeholders and meet key supporters within USDA that can help bridge connections now and into the future. Learn more about the USDA Regional Food Business Centers and stay tuned for grant opportunities.
-
Leslie participated in the ECO City Farms Beginning Farmer Apprentice Program final class on Oct. 9, 2024. Participants gathered to show their harvest and cooking skills and learn who would receive end of program competitive grants. The evening started with greetings and potluck style dinner followed by an interactive program assessment using the "Rose, Bud, Thorn" model. The evening concluded with the announcement of small grant to assist beginning farmers to farm. ECO City Farms was a recipient of the USDA Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grant.
-
The Anacostia Urban Waters All Partners Meeting was held on Oct. 10, 2024. The Urban Waters Partnership in the Anacostia River Watershed is an influential collective that fosters collaboration between Federal agency partners and community-based projects. This unique initiative bridges gaps between several existing networks and coalitions, all working towards restoring the Watershed and its Communities.
|
|
 
Pumpkins in the People’s Garden! Top left going clockwise: 3L Farm, Checotah, OK; Sanctuary Farms, Detroit, MI; Food Strong, Cleveland, OH; Sanctuary Farms, Detroit, MI; Mama Ida's Community Garden, Dallas, TX; Teensy Weensy Farms, Torrance, CA, and Tony Andrews Farm, East Falmouth, MA.
REMINDER! Join us for the People’s Garden networking call on Oct. 29 from 2-3:30 p.m. ET. Makela Elvy with Cornell Cooperative Extension will present on community garden structure and organizing. Register in advance for this meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
