Augusta Locally Grown

** 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 MAJORITY OF FARMS IN GREATER AUGUSTA, GA ARE SMALL FAMILY FARMS IN NEED OF BETTER BUSINESS PRACTICES TO SUSTAIN AND SCALE OPERATIONS; 75% OF BEGINNING FARMERS IN OUR PROGRAM IN 2023 COULD NOT SOLELY LIVE OFF THEIR FARM INCOME. LIVING IN LOW-INCOME AREAS, THESE FARMERS LACK AG- AND BUSINESS- SPECIFIC RESOURCES.THIS PROJECT PROVIDES TIERED AGRICULTURAL AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SERVICES TAILORED TO BEGINNING FARMERS, WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING THEM IMPROVE AND SUSTAIN FARMING OPERATIONS. AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE HOMESTEADING CONFERENCE, INDIVIDUAL FARM PLOTS, FARM TRAINING WORKSHOPS, EXTENSION CLASSES, FARMER PLANNING MEETINGS, FARMER FORUMS, AND MENTORSHIP. ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACTIVITIES INCLUDE BUSINESS TRAINING/COACHING IN 3 FORMATS (SELF-PACED, SMALL GROUP, ONE-ON-ONE) AND GENERAL BUSINESS WORKSHOP. THE ACTIVITIES ALIGN TO BFRDP PROJECT GOALS OF BASIC LIVESTOCK AND CROP FARMING PRACTICES; ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING; CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT; AND MENTORSHIP. PROJECT OBJECTIVES INCLUDE INCREASED AG- AND BUSINESS-RELATED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS; INCREASED ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR GROWING; IMPROVED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY-SOUND AG PRACTICES. ALG EXPECTS FARMERS TO ACHIEVE THESE OUTCOMES, RELATIVE TO THEIR TIER: CREATE A GROWING PLAN; BEGIN GROWING CROPS; CREATE A BUSINESS PLAN; IMPLEMENT ENVIRONMENTALLY-SOUND AG PRACTICES; INCREASE FARM REVENUE; IMPROVE FARM OPERATIONS. PARTNERS/COLLABORATORS INCLUDE ADDERSONS FARM, CSRA VETERANS AND FAMILIES FOUNDATION, AUGUSTA METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, GATEWAY BUSINESS SERVICES, NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SCIENCE. ALG IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION - 100% OF FEDERAL FUNDS REQUESTED WILL BE ALLOCATED TO A CBO. ALL FARMERS IN OUR AREA QUALIFY AS VETERAN, SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED, AND/OR LIMITED RESOURCE - 100% OF FUNDS WILL BE ALLOCATED TO THESE POPULATIONS.

AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN ALG WILL PROVIDE BUSINESS BEST PRACTICES TRAINING TO FARMERS AND TO REGIONAL FARMERS MARKETS. ALG WILL IMPLEMENT A MODEL FOR SUPPORTING BOTH THE FARMER AND THE MARKET THAT ENHANCES PRODUCTTOCONSUMER AND MIDTIER VALUE CHAIN OPPORTUNITIES INCREASES VISIBILITY THROUGH MARKETING AND LEVERAGES REGIONAL AND STATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR SCALING. ALG WILL DISSEMINATE FARMERS MARKET BEST PRACTICES ENHANCING FOOD SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE. PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER MARKETS IN THE REGION WILL BRING MORE CONNECTIVITY AND CAPACITY TO OUR REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM AND THUS TO LOCAL FOOD ECONOMIES. OVERALL STRENGTHENING THE FARMERS THE FARMERS MARKETS AND THE FOOD SYSTEMS WILL RESULT IN INCREASED ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY OF LOCAL AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS.

STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM THROUGH ENHANCED URBAN FARMER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION BY BRIDGING THE GAP FOR URBAN FARMERS WITH LITTLE TO NO AG OR BUSINESS EDUCATION, THIS PROGRAM HELPS THEM MOVE FROM LIVING IN POVERTY WITH LIMITED FOOD ACCESS THEMSELVES TO SUSTAINING A GROWING FARM BUSINESS AND BEING A PART OF THEIR COMMUNITY’S FOOD INSECURITY SOLUTION.

AUGUSTA LOCALLY GROWN (ALG) SEEKS TO CONNECT PRODUCERS TO CONSUMERS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. WITH 13 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WE HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE SHORTFALLS OF OUR CURRENT FOOD SYSTEM AND IDENTIFIED FOUR PRIMARY NEEDS: THE LACK OF A CENTRAL AGGREGATION POINT, LACK OF BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE FOR AREA FARMERS, LACK OF FRESH FOOD ACCESS FOR LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN MEDICINE AND FOOD AS A HEALTHCARE SOLUTION. ALG WILL USE FUNDS FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO DETERMINE BEST PRACTICES TO INCREASE FARMER PRODUCT SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY ACCESS WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF A NEW RESOURCE SITE, THE HUB. THIS 35,000 SQ FT BUILDING WILL INVOLVE EXPANDING ALG'S PROGRAMS TO MAKE LOCAL FOOD ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATION AS THE HARRISBURG FREE FAMILY HEALTH CLINIC. UNLIKE MOST FOOD HUBS, THIS SPACE WILL NOT SOLELY FOCUS ON WHOLESALES BUT WILL DEVELOP INNOVATIVE, HEALTH-FOCUSED SALES OPPORTUNITIES IN CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH FARMERS, EDUCATORS, VALUE-ADDERS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. ALG'S SPACE WILL CONSIST OF A TEACHING/INCUBATOR KITCHEN, ONLINE MARKET FOOD STORAGE, FOOD PHARMACY, AND THE YEAR-ROUND LOCATION OF THE AREA'S ONLY FRESH FOOD ACCESS POINT. A FEASIBILITY STUDY WILL ALLOW FOR A WORKABLE PLAN TO BE IMPLEMENTED ACROSS THE MARKET AREA WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS INPUT ACCOUNTED FOR, THUS ALLOWING US THE BEST USE OF THE HUB FACILITY AND PARTNERSHIPS. THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FROM THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WILL ALLOW ALG TO INCREASE POINT OF SALE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRODUCERS, BUSINESS ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS FOR VULNERABLE CONSUMERS, AND FOOD EDUCATION FOR CONSUMERS.

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.