Two Pennsylvania Projects Selected for Urban Agriculture Grant

Written by Shannon Wehinger on February 14, 2020. Posted in Conservation District Project Spotlight

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced $1 million in urban agriculture conservation funding for 21 conservation districts across 13 states.

NACD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service first partnered through the Urban Agriculture Conservation Grant Initiative in 2016 to support technical assistance activities in developed or developing areas.

Two recipients are from Pennsylvania:

1. Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD)
   Soil Health 2.0: Enhancing Productivity in Allegheny County
   The ACCD will support a series of soil health science and management workshops, development of an urban soil management guide, provide staff support for a pilot master composter program, and map out soil properties for potential urban ag lands across vacant lots in two low-income communities.
2. Indiana County Conservation District (ICCD)
   Growing Community Education of Urban Agriculture with Community Partners
   The ICCD will establish local partnerships to improve operations and locate spaces for edible plants to provide onsite examples for workshops on urban agriculture and soil health best management practices. District staff will be trained to prepare and run workshops to expand knowledge of local agriculture as well as soil and water management.

Click here to read about the other recipients.