Not listed URBAN GROWERS COLLECTIVE HAS IDENTIFIED THE NEED FOR A FULL SPECTRUM, SEQUENTIAL TRAINING/MENTORING PROGRAM, THAT ENCOURAGES NEW/DISCOVERY STAGE AND EMERGING GROWER'S SKILL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH HAND-ON PRACTICE, COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE SHARING, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING; WITHOUT THE FINANCIAL PRESSURE OF STARTING AND MAINTAINING AN INDEPENDENT FARM BUSINESS, REQUIRING TIME CONSUMING TRAVEL AND RELATED MARKETING EXPENSES. THIS NEED FOR LIMITED FINANCIAL RISK WITHIN THE FIRST YEARS OF TRAINING HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO IMPACT THE ECONOMY AND SMALL BUSINESSES. BUILDING A SOLID FOUNDATION OF TECHNICAL SKILLS IS VITAL TO ENSURING EMERGING FARMERS ARE ABLE TO NIMBLY NAVIGATE FUTURE EXPANSIONS AND CHALLENGES. EMERGING AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS MUST FACTOR IN THAT BOTH THE FINANCIAL GAINS AND TECHNICAL FARM SKILLS TAKE MULTIPLE SEASONS TO DEVELOP AS EMERGING GROWERS ASSESS THEIR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES FROM THE PRIOR SEASON. WITHOUT TAKING TIME TO ADEQUATELY BUILD FARM FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS, A PREMATURE EXPANSION OR DISRUPTION CAN DERAIL A FARM'S BUSINESS PLAN BY OVERSTRETCHING RESOURCES AND MAY TAKE MULTIPLE SEASONS TO RECOVER.TO ADDRESS THIS, THE PROJECT WILL UTILIZE URBAN GROWERS COLLECTIVE'S GROWER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM TO PROVIDE NEW AND EMERGING GROWERS WITH HANDS-ON TRAINING IN URBAN AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION AND COOPERATIVE BUSINESS MODELS, AS A FOUNDATION TO INCREASING FOOD SECURITY, FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE CHICAGO REGION. ALTHOUGH THE PROGRAM'S CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED FOR 3 ANNUAL MODULES, THE LEARNING IS SEQUENTIAL AND APPRENTICES MAY CHOOSE TO OFF BOARD SUCCESSFULLY EACH YEAR. OVER THE COURSE OF THE 3 YEAR COHORT MODEL,48 SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED/LIMITED RESOURCE BEGINNING FARMERPARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE EXPERT-LED TRAINING AND MENTORING TO COMPLETE A VIABLE BUSINESS PLAN.THE PROJECT SEEKS TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:GOAL 1: SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND LIMITED RESOURCE BEGINNING FARMERS IN CHICAGO, IL THROUGH URBAN GROWERS COLLECTIVE'S GROWER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMOBJECTIVE 1A: IMPLEMENT HANDS-ON FARM TECHNICAL SKILLS CURRICULUM INCLUDING TOPICS SUCH AS SEEDING AND TRANSPLANTING, BASIC CROP GROWING TECHNIQUES AND MAINTENANCE, AND HARVESTING AND POST-HARVEST HANDLING.OBJECTIVE 1B: IMPLEMENT COOPERATIVE BUSINESS AND FARM BUSINESS CURRICULUM, INCLUDING TOPICS SUCH AS FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING RECORD KEEPING, FINANCING, AND COOPERATIVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTGOAL 2: IDENTIFY AND DOCUMENT CHALLENGES OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED/LIMITED RESOURCE BEGINNING FARMERS IN CHICAGO, IL TO BETTER MEET THEIR DEVELOPMENT NEEDSOBJECTIVE 2A: IMPLEMENT AND ANALYZE GROWER APPRENTICESHIP PARTICIPANT SURVEYS ON SELF-REPORTED KNOWLEDGE GAINS AND PROGRAM FEEDBACK DURING AND AFTER EACH PROGRAM YEAR.OBJECTIVE 2B: BUILD URBAN GROWERS COLLECTIVE'S CAPACITY VIA PARTNERSHIPS AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES TO IMPROVE THE IM,PLEMENTATION OF GROWER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. $0 8/7/25 Not listed **AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** URBAN GROWERS COLLECTIVE - GROWER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM $299.9k 9/7/22