Project summarythe city of orlando's office of sustainability & resilience (OSR), along with its public food program partner – the city of orlando's families, parks and recreation department…

The City of Orlando received a $752,000 Project Grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFDA 10.225), awarded on September 15, 2025, with a performance period through September 14, 2029. The grant funds the development and implementation of CitysproutsTM, a self-sustaining, community-driven food enterprise designed to address food insecurity while generating employment opportunities for young people in Orlando. The initiative will produce and supply fresh, locally grown, nutrient-dense produce to area restaurants and food outlets, create linkages across multiple food system sectors (including small farmers, nonprofits, food vendors, and consumers), and establish sustainable operations through program income and volunteer engagement.

The grant also funds equipment and vehicle acquisition to enhance produce distribution and gleaning operations, supporting the City's broader local food system goals. Specifically, funds will enable the distribution of finished compost from the City's South Street Farm to area community gardens and support increased farm yields through volunteer recruitment and community education in farming techniques. The project builds upon the City's existing investments in local food infrastructure, including two city-operated farms, a hydroponic growing facility, and participation in public food programs, leveraging these assets to create a comprehensive, multi-sector approach to food security and economic development in Orlando.

Project summarythe city of orlando's office of sustainability & resilience (OSR), along with its public food program partner – the city of orlando's families, parks and recreation department (FPR)--seeks to create a self-sustaining, community-driven food enterprise (provisionally named citysprouts) that will provide young people with employment and will supply area restaurants and food outlets with fresh, locally grown, nutrient-dense produce. This one-time federal investment will also fund the acquisition of a vehicle to enhance produce distribution and gleaning efforts to reduce food insecurity in orlando. The equipment will also support the city's local food goals by providing the means to distribute finished compost from the city's south street farm to area community gardens, thereby enriching the soil. The project will increase yields at south street farm through volunteer recruitment, teaching neighborhood residents valuable farming techniques. The city of orlando's community food project builds on investments that the city has made in our local food system including two farms on city land (south street and mcquigg), the employment of five local food / livability staff in the office of sustainability & resilience, participation in public food programs including afterschool nutrition and summer food programs, and the acquisition of a hydroponic growing facility. The grant will allow the city to create and enhance linkages between different sectors of the local food system, including small farmers, commercial farming operations, nonprofits, a public food program, food vendors, a social enterprise, and consumers, including those who are food insecure. The one-time federal investment of $400,000 over the 48-month performance period will create a self-sustaining operation through program income, equipment purchase and volunteer engagement.