Pennsylvania Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications from non profit community groups within designated urban areas for projects to receive funds under the People’s Garden Initiative (PGI).
Donor Name: U.S. Department of Agriculture
State: Pennsylvania
City: Philadelphia
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/21/2023
Size of the Grant: $75,000
Grant Duration: 2 years
Details:
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) allocated funds for the PGI to provide “other assistance to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency” by educating the public about ways that gardening and growing food locally can strengthen food supply chain resiliency.
In the current fiscal year, funding is available in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the surrounding metropolitan area to support food-producing gardens with an educational component. Pennsylvania NRCS can enter into cooperative agreements from $10,000 up to $75,000 each to fund projects that meet the criteria described below. Deadline for proposals to be submitted is April 21, 2023.
Proposed projects must be performed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and/or surrounding metropolitan area.
The purpose of the PGI program is to enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities to provide assistance to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency by educating the public about how gardening and growing food locally can strengthen food supply chain resiliency.
People’s Garden Projects
To comply with the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) stated goal of providing “other assistance to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency,” ARPA funds designated for PGI must support food-producing gardens with an educational component.
- Education is the crucial element – the garden funded must provide “other assistance” in the form of education about how gardening and growing food locally can strengthen supply chain resiliency. However, projects must meet all 4 criteria below to be eligible for funding:
- Collaborative – garden partners with USDA agencies, federal, state, and local partners, community organizations, schools, religious groups, and other such entities.
- Benefits the community – garden produces food for those in need, demonstrates principles of conservation, provides wildlife habitat, and provides a greenspace for gathering. A private garden with no public access or public-facing educational displays would not be eligible.
- Environmentally sustainable practices – garden features pollinator habitat, cover crops, soil health, crop rotation, and irrigation management, etc.
- Educates – garden has signage and/or a web/social media presence explaining how food grows and food production, food systems, sustainable practices, environmental stewardship, garden components; tours, workshops, classes or other educational activities that educate about food production, food systems, food preparation, sustainable practices, environmental stewardship, and other topics as appropriate.
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Program Funding: $150,000
- Award Ceiling: $75,000
- Award Floor: $10,000
Project Period: Projects may be between one and two years in duration. Applicants should plan their projects based on an estimated project start date of June 1st, 2023.
Eligible Applicants
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
