Dallas program targets food inequalities with up to $10,000 grants for urban farmers, applications process starts Monday
Dallas, Texas – Working with Dallas County Health and Human Services, the City of Dallas Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability (OEQS) has developed a unique Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Support Program (UAISP). This project seeks to distribute roughly $100,000 in grants to improve the agricultural infrastructure of the city, therefore addressing a key element of urban sustainability and food security.
The UAISP’s main objective is to increase the capacity of Dallas’s urban farmers and food growers thus fostering more strong food output, enhancing access to healthy food options, and ultimately lowering inequalities in the local food ecosystem. The grant specifically will help with planning, design, construction, and repair of required infrastructure including hydroponics systems, rooftop farms, and community gardens.
Dallas-based agriculture businesses and entrepreneurs starting August 5, 2024 can apply for grants. With its closing on September 2, 2024, at midnight, the application window gives interested parties a limited window of time to guarantee their place in this competitive program. Aiming to cover a spectrum of qualified expenses including utility connections for water and energy, professional services for urban agriculture, and the installation of greenhouses and cold storage solutions, the program has set grants up to $10,000 per applicant.
This award does not, however, cover several costs such personnel salaries, beautification projects, and training charges. This guarantees that the money is focused especially on infrastructure improving sustainability and food output.
Candidates must send a thorough proposal via email or on an online form accessible on the Dallas County Health and Human Services Chronic Disease Prevention Division website. The proposal has to cover the extent of the project, anticipated effects on community health, a thorough budget, a sustainability plan, and a schedule of execution. Every application will go through a comprehensive screening procedure involving a site visit by the Chronic Disease Prevention Division staff to make sure the suggested initiatives complement the main objectives of the award.
The outcomes of the application process will be shared in November 2024, therefore offering vital assistance to qualified candidates as they advance their urban gardening initiatives. This initiative not only shows a major progress toward the goals stated in Dallas’s Comprehensive Environmental Climate Action Plan but also displays a rising awareness of the relevance of local food systems in metropolitan environments.
More details about the program can be found here.
