Plant It Forward

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE OVERALL GOAL OF PLANT IT FORWARD (PIF)'S PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE NEW AMERICAN BEGINNING FARMERS AND RANCHERS (BFRS) WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT WHICH IN TURN LEADS TO THE CREATION AND GROWTH OF PROFITABLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE, AND INDEPENDENT SMALL FARM BUSINESSES. THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE TO: (1) ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES OF NEW AMERICAN BFRS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE START-UP PHASE, IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION; (2) CREATE A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR NEW AMERICAN FARMERS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT SKILL DEVELOPMENT WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY CREATING AN INTEGRATED, INCLUSIVE FARMING COMMUNITY; (3) INCREASE ADOPTION OF REGENERATIVE, ORGANIC, AND CLIMATE-SMART PRACTICES; (4) PREPARE BEGINNING FARMERS TO RESPOND AND ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE BY PROVIDING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RELATED TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY; AND (5) DEVELOP DIVERSE, EQUITABLE, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE THAT, IN THE LONG-TERM, FOSTER NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR BFRS. PIF WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FIVE (5) MAIN PROJECT ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING: (1) DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING A SERIES OF SHORT COURSES ON AGRIBUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY TOPICS; (2) CREATING A NEW APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM; (3) PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT; (4) CONDUCTING DEMONSTRATIONS AND FIELD DAYS; AND (5) HOSTING AN ANNUAL NEW AMERICAN FARMER CONFERENCE. DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD WE WILL SERVE ~70 BFRS. KEY OUTCOMES INCLUDE:INCREASED FARM SALES OF >30% FOR ~70% OF PARTICIPANTS>3 NEW FARMING ENTERPRISES ESTABLISHED>50 BFRS ADOPT A NEW, SUSTAINABILITY-RELATED PRODUCTION PRACTICE

TO STRENGTHEN THE LONG TERM VIABILITY OF REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT OWNEDAGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES BY MAKING COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEMS OF FARM SUPPORTACCESSIBLE AND AVAILABLE

PLANT IT FORWARD FARMS (PIF) PROPOSES CREATING A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH THE USDA BEGINNING FARMER ANDRANCHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (BFRDP) TO IMPLEMENT AN URBAN FARM TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMFOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS IN THE HOUSTON, TX METRO AREA.THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IS TO ENABLE PRACTICING REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT FARMERS TO STRENGTHENFARM STARTUPS AND CATALYZE THEIR TRANSITION INTO THE GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT PHASE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. WEWILL ACCOMPLISH THIS BY PROVIDING ADVANCED, COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.THE PROPOSED WORK IS CENTERED ON THE FOLLOWING FIVE MAIN OBJECTIVES:ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES OF FARMERS IN FARM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENTENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES OF FARMERS IN ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTIONDIVERSIFY MARKETS BY ENABLING ACCESS TO WHOLESALE MARKETS AND INCREASING DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER SALE OFSPECIALTY CROPS TO TARGETED COMMUNITIESENABLE FARMERS TO GAIN LONG-TERM LAND ACCESSCREATE REGION SPECIFIC RESOURCES TO AID FARMERS IN ESTABLISHING NEW BUSINESSESDURING THE PROJECT PERIOD WE WILL TRAIN AT LEAST 30 FARMERS. WE ANTICIPATE ACHIEVING THE FOLLOWING KEY OUTCOMES:100% OF PARTICIPATING FARMERS TAKE ACTION TO FORMALIZE THEIR BUSINESSES;>20% INCREASE IN TOTAL INCUBATOR FARM SALES; AND100% OF PARTICIPATING FARMERS INCREASE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY THROUGH ADOPTION OF AT LEAST 1 NEW PRACTICEANNUALLY.THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE TO ENABLE MORE REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT FARMERS TO ENTER INTO AND REMAININ FARMING.WE REQUEST A BUDGET OF $300,000 TO SUCCESSFULLY CARRY-OUT THE ABOVE OBJECTIVES OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD.

THE PURPOSE OF "SCALING FOOD HUB IMPACT SERVING BIPOC AND NEW AMERICAN FARMERS IN SOUTH,EAST,AND CENTRAL TEXAS," IS TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS BY SUSTAINABLY STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF THE PLANT IT FORWARD (PIF) FOOD HUB. ITS SUCCESSFUL CSA PROGRAM SERVES OVER 400 FAMILIES PER WEEK; HOWEVER,PIF'S CURRENT FINANCIAL MODEL REQUIRES SUPPLEMENTAL NON-PROGRAM INCOME TO SUSTAIN FOOD HUB ACTIVITIES. RELIANCE ON NON-PROGRAM INCOME CREATES GROWTH CHALLENGES FOR PIF,AND MORE FUNDAMENTALLY,POSES A LONG-TERM RISK TO FARM BUSINESSES RELYING UPON PIF FOR SALES OPPORTUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY,THE PROJECT ADDRESSES SEVERE OPERATIONAL STRAINS TO PIF PRECIPITATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. KEY PROJECT OBJECTIVES INCLUDE THE CREATION OF A BUSINESS PLAN WHICH ENABLES LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SELF- SUFFICIENCY OF THE PIF FOOD HUB,AND WHICH ASSESSES INCORPORATION OF A TIERED-PRICING MODEL INTO THE CSA,AS A NOVEL SOLUTION TO LOCAL FOOD ACCESS DISPARITIES. THE BUSINESS PLAN INFORMS A MARKETING STRATEGY AND MULTI-YEAR CAMPAIGN THAT AIMS TO INCREASE LOCAL FOOD CONSUMPTION IN THE HOUSTON REGION. THESE STRATEGIES RESULT IN EXPANDED DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED GROWERS OPERATING IN SOUTH,EAST,AND CENTRAL TEXAS. SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES INCLUDE THE CREATION OF A BUSINESS PLAN WHICH ENABLES PIF TO CLOSE ITS FOOD HUB BUDGET DEFICIT WITHIN 5 YEARS (REACHING 75% OF BASELINE BY YEAR 3),INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED PRODUCERS SERVED BY THE PIF FOOD HUB FROM 13 TO 25,AND INCREASING TOTAL SALES BY 48%,TO $1,450,000 OVER A 3-YEAR PERIOD.

OBJECTIVE 1: TO BUILD OUT THE PLANT IT FORWARD MODEL TRAINING FARM.OBJECTIVE 2: TO SELECT THE IDEAL REFUGEE FARMERS TO ENSURE FARMER RETENTION AND M

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE PROJECT FOR REFUGEES

PLANT IT FORWARD FARM STAND PROGRAM

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.

ENHANCING REFUGEE-RUN URBAN FARMS THROUGH INCORPORATION OF CNSERVATION BEST-PRACTICES: POLLINATOR HABITAT INSTALLATION AT PLANT IT FORWARD FARMS IN HOUSTON, TX