Departamento De La Comida De Puerto Rico

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO EL DEPARTAMENTO DE LA COMIDA (EL DEPA). SPECIFICALLY, THIS PROJECT HAS THREE INITIATIVES: COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, A CLIMATE RESILIENCE HUB, AND INTERGENERATIONAL WATERWAY RESTORATION. EL DEPARTAMENTO DE LA COMIDA AND PARTNERS WILL IMPLEMENT NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS OF RIPARIAN RESTORATION TO ADDRESS VULNERABILITIES AND ENHANCE WATERSHED RESILIENCE; INSTALL ENERGY-EFFICIENT UPGRADES TO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS AND ENHANCE RESILIENCE; INTRODUCE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO BUILD ADAPTIVE CAPACITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY; ADMINISTER COMMUNITY COMPOSTING TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE AND SUPPORT LOCAL BIODIVERSITY; AND TRAIN STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN WATERSHED STEWARDSHIP TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AND POLLUTION REDUCTION. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE IMPLEMENTING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS, UPGRADING BUILDINGS TO MAKE THEM ENERGY EFFICIENT, ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY RESILIENCE HUB, REDUCING ORGANIC WASTE, ESTABLISHING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND TRAININGS, AND REDUCING POLLUTION AND INCREASING THE RESILIENCY OF WATERWAYS. SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARDEES WILL: TRANSITION SMALL AND MEDIUM FARMS FROM INDUSTRIAL TO REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES; PROMOTE AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF NATURAL SPACES, AND AUTONOMY, IN SERVICE OF EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN COOPERATIVE AND COMMUNAL SUSTAINABILITY; TRANSFORM THE MERCEDES PALMA SCHOOL INTO A MULTIFACETED HUB THAT SERVES AS A BEACON OF RESILIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE REGION; PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO THE COMMUNITY ON SOLAR PANELS AND ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS; HOLD STEWARDSHIP OVER THE DISUSED MERCEDES PALMA SCHOOL BUILDING AND FACILITATE THE RESTORATION OF THE BUILDING BY EL DEPA, TRANSFORMING IT INTO A RESILIENCIA HUB; LEAD ENVIRONMENTAL AND ARTS-BASED POPULAR EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS, SUPPORTING THE RESIDENTS OF CAGUAS IN ADVANCING CLIMATE JUSTICE ORGANIZING EFFORTS. OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE: A VULNERABILITY MAP OF THE COMMUNITY; INCREASED NATIVE SPECIES ALONG WATERSHED WATERWAYS; PLANTING 200 SHADE TREES ANNUALLY; INSTALLATION OF RAINWATER COLLECTION SYSTEMS; INSTALLATION OF INTERPRETATION STOPS ALONG TRAILS; RENOVATING AND RESTORING THE MERCEDES PALMA SECONDARY SCHOOL AS RESILIENT COMMUNITY BUILDING; UPGRADING PROJECT SITES WITH SOLAR AND BATTERY SYSTEMS; SOLAR REFRIGERATION AT SELECT PROJECT SITES; AN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION CENTER, NATIVE TREE NURSERY, AND ORGANIC COMPOSTING SITE; EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH; DELIVERING DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, FLOOD PREPAREDNESS, ORGANIC FARMING, AND CLIMATE ADAPTION TRAININGS; CONVERTING PRODUCE THAT WOULD NORMALLY GO TO WASTE; TRANSITION SMALL AND MEDIUM FARMS FROM INDUSTRIAL TO REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND TRAIN FARMERS TO TRANSITION TO ORGANIC AND AGROECOLOGICAL FARMING; DEVELOPING AN AGROECOLOGICAL WORKFORCE TRAINED IN GHG REDUCTION AND WATER PROTECTION STRATEGIES; WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM; AND TRAININGS ON PLANTING NATIVE PLANTS, COLLECTING DATA, AND MONITORING WATER ALONG THE WATERSHED; CREATION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT TRANSLATE HIGHLY TECHNICAL PROTOCOLS INTO ACCESSIBLE LANGUAGE AND FORMATS. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: MITIGATING RISKS OF LANDSLIDES; DECREASED EROSION; REFORESTATION; INCREASED RESILIENCE TO EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATE EVENTS; MORE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES; INCREASED COMMUNITY CONNECTIVITY AND SAFETY; INCREASED CONSUMPTION OF TRADITIONAL, LOCALLY PRODUCED FOODS; DECREASED RELIANCE ON RESOURCE-INTENSIVE, NON-NATIVE CROPS; INCREASED ENGAGEMENT OF COMMUNITIES IN STEWARDING LANDS AND WATERS; INCREASED COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS; COMMUNITY-CONVENING SPACES TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND R

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** EL DEPARTAMENTO DE LA COMIDA, A GRASSROOTS NONPROFIT COLLECTIVE IN PUERTO RICO, IS SEEKING A COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS (CFP) GRANT TO AMPLIFY THE IMPACT OF OUR FOOD HUB, A MUCH-NEEDED MODEL FOR LOCAL FOOD SOVEREIGNTY. THROUGH THIS PROJECT WE AIM TO (1) INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, LOCAL FOODS ACROSS LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES IN PUERTO RICO; (2) EXPAND DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS AND INCREASE INCOME OF LOCAL FARMERS AND FOOD PRODUCERS; (3) FULLY ENGAGE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN FOOD HUB OPERATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES; AND (4) ACHIEVE INCREASED ORGANIZATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, BUILDING TOWARDS GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND A REPLICABLE FOOD HUB MODEL FOR PUERTO RICO.TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS, EL DEPARTAMENTO WILL EQUIP AND LAUNCH OUR COCINA (COMMERCIAL KITCHEN) PROGRAM TO PURCHASE AND PROCESS CROPS AND ARTISAN PRODUCTS TO SELL AT LOCAL MARKETS, INCREASING ORGANIZATIONAL REVENUE AND FARMER/PRODUCER INCOME AS WELL AS LOCAL ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD PRODUCTS. WE WILL EXPAND OFFERINGS IN OUR EXISTING AGROTECA (RESOURCE LIBRARY) PROGRAM TO INCREASE RESOURCE ACCESS AND EDUCATION FOR FARMERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE WILL ALSO CREATE TWO NEW EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS TO MANAGE AND BUILD CAPACITY FOR THE COCINA PROGRAM AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS & FARM BRIGADES.ONCE EQUIPPED, THE FOOD HUB WILL BE ACTIVATED DURING FUTURE CLIMATE DISASTERS TO PROVIDE MUTUAL AID, COMMUNITY MEALS, AND RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION - BUILDING RESILIENCE FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. BY LINKING PRODUCERS, CONSUMERS, AND COMMUNITIES, EL DEPARTAMENTO DE LA COMIDA IS BUILDING THE SKILLS, RELATIONSHIPS, AND ECONOMY FOR A FOOD SECURE PUERTO RICO IN ALIGNMENT WITH CFP GOALS.