The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded Painted Desert Demonstration Projects, Inc. (doing business as The Star School) a cooperative agreement valued at $314,096 on March 1, 2026, under the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (CFDA 10.175). The award funds activities in Arizona from March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2029.
Painted Desert Demonstration Projects, Inc. is a nonprofit tax-exempt entity based in Flagstaff, Arizona, that provides educational, technical assistance, and community development services to Native American and rural communities, with particular focus on the Navajo Nation and the southwestern United States. The organization has received substantial federal grant funding across multiple agencies in areas including education, water infrastructure, agricultural training, and cultural preservation. Recent awards include a $941,471 Impact Aid Program grant supporting K-12 educational services and a $749,952 grant to increase military veterans' participation in agricultural careers.
The Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program supports development, coordination, and expansion of local and regional food systems through projects that establish direct producer-to-consumer markets and local food business enterprises. Eligible applicants include agricultural businesses, nonprofits, tribal governments, and economic development corporations. Awards are made competitively through a three-step merit review process involving initial qualification screening, technical peer review, and administrative review. Grant agreements run for two or three years, with recipients eligible to request a one-year extension to complete project objectives.