Victory Gardens Inc

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PROJECT VICTORY GARDENS (PVG) IS A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO CULTIVATE RESILIENCY AMONG OUR NATION'S VETERANS. UNDER PALMETTO VETERANS IN AGRIBUSINESS, PVG WILL PARTNER WITH CLEMSON UNIVERSITY AND STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE STATE. PVG CONDUCTED THREE ITERATIONS OF A PILOT FARMER BOOTCAMP PROGRAM OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS WITH GREAT SUCCESS. IN 2022 PVG IMPLEMENTED A DOD SKILLBRIDGE APPROVED INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND SPONSORED THE SC FARMER VETERAN SYMPOSIUM.THIS PROGRAM IS WELL-POSITIONED WITHIN THE REGION: SOUTH CAROLINA (10TH) AND BORDERING NORTH CAROLINA (4TH) AND GEORGIA (5TH) HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST POPULATIONS OF ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS BY STATE, WITH 17.7% OF ACTIVE-DUTY PERSONNEL STATIONED ACROSS THE THREE. WHILE VETERANS REPRESENT MORE THAN 11% OF FARMERS NATIONALLY, SC BOASTS THE MOST PER CAPITA OF ANY STATE AT 14%.EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASING ACCESS TO AGRICULTURE AND KNOWLEDGE OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICESFOR TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS, PROVIDING WORKFORCE READINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS, FACILITATING CONNECTIONS, AND INCREASING OUTREACH BETWEEN VETERANS AND RESOURCE ORGANIZATIONS, ALL LEADING TO INCREASED RURAL DEVELOPMENT.UNDER THIS PROJECT, PVG WILL EXPAND THE FARMER BOOTCAMP PROGRAM TO BE HELD UP TO SIX TIMES ANNUALLY ACROSS THE STATE (THREE ITERATIONS OF THE TWO-DAY FARMER BOOTCAMP AND THREE ITERATIONS OF THE FOUR-DAY FARMER BOOTCAMP 2.0), TRAINING 340 PARTICIPANTS IN TWO- OR FOUR-DAY PROGRAMS. THE VETERAN AGRIBUSINESS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM DESIGNED TO LEAD TO SELF-EMPLOYMENT IN SMALL- TO MEDIUM-SIZED AGRIBUSINESS OUTLETS WILL TRAIN 220 PARTICIPANTS, PROVIDING $1.36 MILLION IN INTERN LABOR TO SC FARMS AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. THE VETERAN AGRIBUSINESS OUTREACH FAIR, INTENDED TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO VARIOUS SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES TO ASSIST VETERANS INVOLVED IN, OR ENTERING, AGRIBUSINESS WILL REACH 600 VETERANS. FINALLY, AN AGRITOURISM INCUBATORAND VETERAN AGRITOURISM MARKETING AND BRANDING PROGRAM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN SOUTH CAROLINA WITH THE INTENTION OF NATIONAL AVAILABILITY FOLLOWING THE GRANT PERIOD. ULTIMATELY, WE WILL CREATE IMPROVED ACCESS TO FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRIBUSINESS FOR VETERANS, A VIBRANT AND YOUNGER AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE, A SAFER FOOD SUPPLY, MORE ACCESS TO LOCAL FOOD IN RURAL AREAS OF HIGH POVERTY, AND IMPROVED COMMUNITY VITALITY THROUGH AGRITOURISM.

CREATE COMMUNITY GARDENS IN ROCK HILL, YORK COUNTY, SC WITH GREENHOUSEAND CROP BOX. INCLUDES NUTRITION EDUCATION, HEALTHY COOKING CLASSES ANDGARDENING TECHNIQUES FOR YOUTH, TEENS, AND ADULTS.

TO SUPPORT THE WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF "THE BOYS' ROOM" BY JOEL DRAKE JOHNSON, A MEMBER OF THE VICTORY GARDENS PLAYWRIGHTS ENSEMBLE.

TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF THE AMERICAN PREMIERE OF "DISCONNECT" WRITTEN BY ANUPAMA CHANDRASEKHAR AND DIRECTED BY ANN FILMER.

TO SUPPORT THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE HERERO OF NAMIBIA, FORMERLY KNOWN AS SOUTH-WEST AFRICA, FROM THE G

THE CURRENT ISSUES FACING THE ROCK HILL COMMUNITY ARE SIMILAR TO OTHER GROWING METROPOLITANS. DIVERSIFYING LOCAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES CREATES BOTH A MORE EQUITABLE AND RESILIENT ECONOMY. WHEN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE DIVERSE, RESIDENTS ARE BETTER ABLE TO CONNECT THEIR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE TO THE RIGHT JOB, ENHANCING EQUITY IN OPPORTUNITY. BASED ON A FEASIBILITY STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE CITY OF ROCK HILL AND THE CLINTON CONNEXTION ACTION PLAN COMMITTEE THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER ALARMING DATA POINTS THAT A URBAN AGRICULTURE DISTRICT CAN SUPPORT AND ADDRESS. ONE BEING THE PROVERY RATE IN THIS CENSEAUS TRACT THAT STATES THAT 33.4% PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE LIVE BELOW POVERTY LINE - THIS MEASURE IS AN ESTIMATE OF PEOPLE LIVING BELOW THE NATIONAL POVERTY LEVEL. IT IS A MEASURE OF MATERIAL HARDSHIP, AND IS OFTEN USED TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY IN SOCIAL SAFETY PROGRAMS. CENSUS TRACTS WITH OVER 40% OF RESIDENTS LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE ARE CONSIDERED TO BE AREAS OF CONCENTRATED POVERTY. THE OTHER IS THE HEALTH ENVIRONMENT- A HEALTH COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTES TO THE HEALTH OF ITS RESIDENTS. IN THIS SAME CENSUS TRACT 24.4% DIAGNOSED AS DIABETIC, 50% OBESITY RATE AND 13.7% ASTHMA WE INTEND TO HAVE PUBLIC FORUM TO ASK THE RESIDENCE WHAT IT IS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THIS AGRICULTURE DISTRICT,ALSO WORK WITH THE CITY OF ROCK HILL AND CLINTON COLLEGE TO FINDS WAYS TO BUILD A PATH MORE EDUCATION CENTERED AROUNDURBAN AGRICULTURE AND TO STIMULATE A LOCAL ECONOMY WITH IN THE SOUTHSIDE OF ROCK HILL. THE IMPACT DOING THIS RESEARCH WILLLAY THE GROUND WORK FOR IMPLENTATING A PATH TO HAVING AN URBAN AGICULTURE DISTRICT IN THE CITY OF ROCK HILL, SC. THIS WOULD ALSO BE THE FIRSTOF ITS KIND IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. SOCIAL BENEFITS OF THIS WOULD HELP PROMOTE AND INCREASE THE ECONOMIC FOOTPRINT OF THE RESIDENCE OF THE SOUTHSIDE OF ROCK HILL. IT WOULD ALSO MAKE THIS AREA A DESIGNATION FOR VISITORS OF THE CITY AND THE STATE.

TO SUPPORT THE PRODUCTION OF HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF A PLAY BY LILY PADILLA.

TO SUPPORT A PRODUCTION OF CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND BY LAUREN YEE.

TO SUPPORT THE WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF "SAMSARA" BY LAUREN YEE, DIRECTED BY SETH BOCKLEY.

TO SUPPORT A PRODUCTION OF "THE LOST BOYS OF SUDAN" BY LONNIE CARTER.

TO SUPPORT THE WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF BREACH: A MANIFESTO ON RACE IN AMERICA THROUGH THE EYES OF A BLACK GIRL RECOVERING FROM SELF-HATE A NEW PLAY BY ANTOINETTE NWANDU.

TO SUPPORT THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "THE GOSPEL OF LOVINGKINDNESS" BY MARCUS GARDLEY.

TO SUPPORT GENERAL OPERATING COSTS IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

TO SUPPORT THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "QUEEN " A NEW PLAY BY MADHURI SHEKAR.

TO SUPPORT THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "COCKED" BY SARAH GUBBINS.

PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT A PRODUCTION OF CULLUD WATTAH BY ERIKA DICKERSON-DESPENZA.