Athens Land Trust 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.** GEORGIA FARMLINK: AT THE KITCHEN TABLE WITH FARMERS FOR CAPACITY BUILDING AND ALIGNING OPPORTUNITIES IS A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE COHESION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES AND BUILD FARMER CAPACITY THROUGH INTENSIVE FARM BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION AND A TRAIN THE TRAINER APPROACH TO BUILDING FARMER PEER LEADERSHIP. OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, GEORGIA FARMLINK AND ITS PARTNERS WILL IMPLEMENT A ROBUST AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT WILL ANCHOR GA FARMLINK AS IT GROWS ITS CAPACITY TO OFFER FARMERS A FULL SUITE OF BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES. EACH YEAR, GEORGIA FARMLINK AND ITS PARTNERS WILL RECRUIT 6 FARMERS TO ENGAGE IN THE CURRICULUM, TAILORING THE COURSE TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF EACH FARMER COHORT. AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES YEAR-OVER-YEAR, FARMERS WILL REMAIN IN COHORT TO SUPPORT RECRUITMENT, OUTREACH, AND TRAINING TO OTHER FARMERS IN THEIR NETWORK, GROWING THE OVERALL REACH AND CAPACITY OF GEORGIA FARMLINK TO SERVE THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS IN GEORGIA.THE CENTERPIECE OF THE PROGRAM IS A COURSE CALLED THE RESILERATOR AND A COMPREHENSIVE BUSINESS RESILIENCE SELF-ASSESSMENT. THE RESILERATOR AND THE BUSINESS RESILIENCE SELF-ASSESSMENT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED OVER MANY YEARS BY POPPY DAVIS WORKING THROUGH SAGE, CALIFORNIA FARMLINK, NATIONAL FARMERS UNION, ARCADIA CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, WALLACE CENTER AND OTHERS.THIS PROJECT WILL BUILD THE CAPACITY OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS BY ENGAGING THEM AS LEADERS AND PARTNERS IN THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CURRICULUM, BUILDING DIRECT CONNECTIONS WITH TA PARTNERS AND USDA AGENCIES, AND PREPARING PARTICIPATING FARMERS FOR PEER-TO-PEER INSTRUCTION AND LEADERSHIP.

THE OBJECTIVE OF ATHENS ENERGY OPPORTUNITY IS TO EXPAND THE REACH OF WEATHERIZATION AND ADDRESS STRUCTURAL BARRIERS TO LOW-INCOME AND HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES* IN ACCESSING ENERGY EFFICIENCY, WEATHERIZATION, AND RENEWABLE ENERGY BENEFITS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BENEFITTED WEALTHIER COMMUNITIES IN AN INEQUITABLE WAY. BY PURSUING THIS EFFORT IN CONJUNCTION WITH HOLISTIC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, IMPACTED COMMUNITIES WILL BE POISED TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF AND LEADERSHIP IN THE DIRECTION OF CURRENT AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY, WEATHERIZATION, RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND OTHER SERVICES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. WORKING WITH YOUTH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS WILL OPEN PATHWAYS TO HIGH-DEMAND AND LUCRATIVE CAREERS FOR IMPACTED YOUTH IN THE FIELD OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDING, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND SOLAR ENERGY.

INCUBATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, LAND ACCESS AND CUSTOMIZEDRESOURCES FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED

EXPAND THE TECHNICAL AND MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR BEGINNING FARMERS AND YOUTH AT THE INCUBATOR FARM, WHILE PROVIDING REGULAR SUPPLIES OF FRESH PRODUCE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CLARKE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH PRODUCE THAT IS PURCHASED FROM INCUBATORS

PURPOSE TO CREATE A NAVIGABLE PATH FOR BEGINNING UNDERSERVED FARMERS TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL FARM BUSINESSES AND TO CULTIVATE INTEREST AND KNOWLEDGE OF CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH OF COLOR THROUGH THREE YEARS OF SCALED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FARM BUSINESS RESOURCES.

FARM AND RANCH LANDS PROTECTION PROGRAM

WEST BROAD COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECT, ATHENS, GA

ATHENS LAND TRUST BEGINNING FARMER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

ATHENS GA COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK

WEST BROAD FARMERS MARKET PROMOTION PROG

GROWING TOGETHER: WEST BROAD FARMERS MARKET INNOVATIONS FORARMERS, PRODUCERS, AND CONSUMERS

THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO DISMANTLE A SIGNIFICANT BARRIER TO THE ESTABLISHMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF FARM OPERATIONS FOR NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS -- DIFFICULTY IN ACQUIRING LAND -- BY STRENGTHENING INNOVATIVE TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR FARMLAND ACCESS, TRANSFER, AND SUCCESSION. LAND ACCESS IS A SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR BEGINNING FARMERS IN GEORGIA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE MOST THREATENED STATES FOR LOSS OF WORKING AGRICULTURAL LAND. IN ADDITION TO THE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES POSED BY A DWINDLING SUPPLY OF FARMLAND, THIS RELATIVE SCARCITY DRIVES UP LAND VALUES AND PRICES, PUTTING ACCESS OUT OF REACH FOR MANY BEGINNING FARMERS. THIS ALSO COMPOUNDS THE SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS ENTERING THE AGRICULTURAL FIELD, WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY FACED DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES IN ACCESSING FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES INCLUDING AGRICULTURAL CREDIT. FARMER INVOLVEMENT IN CONCEPTUALIZING A SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE IS ROOTED IN ALT'S HISTORY AND SUCCESS IN PROVIDING 1:1 SUPPORT TO BEGINNING FARMERS IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA. SINCE 2013, WE HAVE PROVIDED UNINTERRUPTED PROGRAMMING THROUGH NRCS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, AS WELL AS BFRDP AND 2501 GRANTS, THAT FOCUSES ON BUILDING LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH BEGINNING FARMERS IN OUR SERVICE NETWORK WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SERVING AFRICAN AMERICAN FARMERS. THROUGH THESE USDA PARTNERSHIPS, ATHENS LAND TRUST MEETS WITH AN AVERAGE OF 50 FARMERS PER YEAR AT ALL STAGES OF THEIR FARMING CAREER AND ASSISTS THEM WITH FARM DEVELOPMENT, CONSERVATION PRACTICES, AND ACCESS TO USDA PROGRAMS. IN COMPILING AND ASSESSING FARMER INPUT AND FEEDBACK, WE HAVE DOCUMENTED LAND ACCESS AS A CRITICAL NEED SINCE OUR EARLIEST OUTREACH EFFORTS. AS A CONSERVATION LAND TRUST, WE HAVE ALSO DOCUMENTED IN OUR WORK WITH LANDOWNERS THE DESIRE TO PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS ON FAMILY LAND WHEN PROGENY DO NOT CONTINUE IN THE BUSINESS. HOWEVER, EVEN ASIDE FROM BARRIERS SUCH AS LACK OF CAPITAL, MATCHING LAND SEEKERS WITH LANDHOLDERS IS A CHALLENGE.IN RESPONSE, IN 2018 ALT WORKED WITH NATIONAL AND STATEWIDE PARTNERS TO CO-DEVELOP GEORGIA FARMLINK (GAFARMLINK.ORG). THIS WEB TOOL HELPS BEGINNING FARMERS FIND AFFORDABLE PATHWAYS TO FARMLAND OWNERSHIP AND FACILITATES FARMLAND SUCCESSION PLANNING THROUGH SEARCH AND MATCHING INTERFACES FOR BOTH LAND SEEKERS AND LANDOWNERS. HOWEVER, MANY FARMERS NEED SUPPORT IN WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF LAND ACCESS AND SUCCESSION PLANNING. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE TEN TIMES AS MANY SEEKERS AS LAND PARCELS, MAKING IT DAUNTING FOR MANY BEGINNING FARMERS TO COMPLETE THE MATCHING PROCESS SUCCESSFULLY. THE GAFARMLINK TOOL CAN BE STRENGTHENED BY INTEGRATING THE BEST PRACTICES APPROACH THAT ALT HAS EMPLOYED IN EIGHT YEARS OF FARMER OUTREACH: ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT FOR FARMERS AND DELIVERY OF INDIVIDUALLY TAILORED TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE TO INCREASE SUCCESSFUL FARMLAND TRANSFER TO BEGINNING FARMERS IN GEORGIA.NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS PROJECT, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS. WE EXPECT TO SERVE A MINIMUM OF 75 UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS, AND WE ESTIMATE THAT APPROXIMATELY 60% OR MORE OF THE PROGRAM'S PARTICIPANTS WILL BE SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED. DUE TO ATHENS LAND TRUST'S MANDATE AS A CONSERVATION LAND TRUST TO WORK THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF GEORGIA, AS WELL AS THE ACCESSIBILITY OF GAFARMLINK AS A STATEWIDE TOOL FOR FARMLAND ACCESS AND TRANSFER, WE FORESEE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE TARGETED SERVICES TO BEGINNING FARMERS IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA WHILE BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO SUPPORT FARMERS IN THE SAME WAY IN OTHER REGIONS. ?

OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE FOR SDFRS IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA

THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $119,941 TO ATHENS LAND TRUST. THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO CONDUCT MONITORING AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN THE WEST BROAD NEIGHBORHOOD AND SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH COMMUNITY GARDENING. THE FUNDS WILL HELP IMPROVE COMMUNITY GARDENING OPERATIONS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS EDUCATED IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, IMPROVED WATER QUALITY THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES AND INCREASED ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL DATA IN THE WEST BROAD NEIGHBORHOOD.

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

WEST BROAD FARMERS MARKET IN THE LOW-INCOME HANCOCK CORRIDOR

PROMOTE AWARENESS OF

FARMLAND PROTECTION ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PROJECT

THIS ACTION APPROVES AN AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,700 TO THE ATHENS LAND TRUST, INC TO ASSIST IN THEIR EFFORTS TO MAKE THE WEST BROAD MARKET GARDEN

HOUSING COUNSELING

CONSERVATION COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT - ALE OUTREACH