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Twelve projects statewide will receive grants to encourage agricultural education for urban youth and urban agriculture community development totaling $280,500, through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s agricultural growth, research and innovation urban agriculture grant program, according to a press release.

The program, in its third year, assists organizations and communities in obtaining the materials and services necessary for the successful promotion of urban agriculture.

“The recipients for this year’s grants will use their awards to expand on agriculture projects within their communities,” said Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey. “These projects not only allow Minnesota’s youth to gain hands-on experiences in agriculture and food production, they also strengthen the food system as a whole within each community.”

The 2020 AGRI Urban Agriculture Grant recipients include:

• Appetite for Change of Minneapolis will continue to train youth and support on-going urban agriculture initiatives.

• ARTS-Us of St. Paul will develop a year-round program to teach youth urban agriculture practices related to African Diaspora.

• Center School Inc. of Minneapolis will teach local youth to grow, harvest, and preserve indigenous crops and heritage foods.

• Community Action Duluth of Duluth will provide new urban agriculture employment opportunities to increase local foods production.

• FAIR Pilgrim Lane PTO of Robbinsdale will establish a community garden focusing on the production of organic vegetables and herbs, pollinator habitats, and an outdoor classroom.

• Fond du Lac Reservation of Cloquet will install agricultural infrastructure to support Cary Road Farm and improve food security.

• Frogtown Farm of St. Paul will provide paid internships and farm tours for local schools and youth organizations.

• Live Organically of Minneapolis will establish the Grow Organically Education Program to provide farming, nutrition and wellness classes for local youth.

• SLP SEEDS of St. Louis Park will construct a “tiny” nomadic greenhouse farm and offer “Lunch and Learn” programs to local schools, libraries and nearby affordable housing complexes.

• Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association of Minneapolis will install an outdoor/indoor growing space to extend the growing season and explore cold climate food production methods with students at Roosevelt High School.

• Success Academy of Bloomington will build a Deep Winter Greenhouse for year-round vegetable production and to increase STEM education opportunities.

• University of Minnesota Extension of St. Cloud will start a youth-led 4-H Club community garden and apiary.

Visit the MDA website for more information about this year’s grantees and their projects at www.mda.state.mn.us/urbanaggrant.