Grants to expand the development of urban agriculture in California are now open, giving interested applicants until mid-October to vie for $12 million in funding.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Farm to Fork is administering the 2023 Urban Agriculture Grant Program, which aims to fund projects to boost “the viability of urban agriculture across California,” CDFA noted in a release.
“The growth of urban agriculture is a means for expanding access to fresh produce, building community, providing workforce development, improving urban ecosystems, and increasing agricultural literacy,” CDFA Secretary Karen Ross said in a statement. “Consumers want to know where their food comes from, and they’re looking for ways to engage in meaningful work in their local community. This grant program serves these overlapping purposes and helps build healthier, more resilient neighborhoods.”
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The program will operate on a two-track system: one “intended to increase capacity for community-based organizations” and another that “directly funds urban agriculture projects by supporting costs associated with items like infrastructure, equipment, operations, workforce development, community engagement and technical assistance.”
CDFA plans to set aside 10% of the program’s awards for tribal governments and tribal-based nonprofits.
The application window closes Oct. 23.
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