The USDA is providing $14.4 million in grants and technical assistance to support innovative production and urban agriculture. Since 2020, the USDA has invested $53.7 million in UAIP grant projects, and now the OUAIP is offering an additional $2.5 million for UAIP grants. Through an interagency agreement with the NIFA, the NRCS is contributing $11.9 million to recruit Urban Agriculture Conservation Extension Educators via Cooperative Extension programs at land-grant universities.
The grants aim to enhance food production and accessibility in economically disadvantaged areas, offer education and job training, and enable partners to create business plans and zoning proposals. The program funds a variety of endeavors through grants that cover planning and implementation tasks.
The USDA is accepting applications through Grants.gov until March 10, 2025. Additionally, to help NRCS expand their support to urban producers outside of priority cities, the agreement will finance the creation of an Impact Collaborative for the delivery of urban agriculture services.
