Project Grant 96711401

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO SPRINGFIELD COMMUNITY GARDENS. THE RECIPIENT WILL EDUCATE AND EMPOWER BOTH THE UNDERSERVED AND DISPROPORTIONATE ENVIRONMENTAL AND/OR PUBLIC HEALTH HARMS OF URBAN AND RURAL GREENE COUNTY, MO AND SURROUNDING COUNTY NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES TO BECOME MORE ECOLOGICALLY DIVERSE AND PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION PRACTICES TO NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, OWNERS OF SMALL SUSTAINABLE LANDHOLDINGS FOR MARKET FARMING, AND THE URBAN CORE AND RURAL FARMERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE PERI-URBAN ZONES OF TRANSITION. ACTIVITIES:THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY EXPANDING THE CURRENT 4-WEEK LEVEL I INTERNSHIP PROGRAM TO 90 PARTICIPANTS AND ADDING A SECONDARY INTERMEDIATE REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM TO THE TIERED TRAINING MODEL TO 18 ADDITIONAL BEGINNING URBAN AND RURAL FARMERS. THE PROJECT WILL FURTHER DEVELOP THE SCG TIERED TRAINING MODEL AND CURRICULUM AS WELL AS EXPAND OUTREACH METHODS TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY MEMBER KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL ON REGENERATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE THAT WILL SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN THE CITY'S VISION AND GOALS. THIS CERTIFICATE WILL INCLUDE MORE INTENSIVE TRAINING AND IS INTENDED TO SERVE AS AN INTERMEDIATE TRAINING LEVEL BETWEEN THE 4-WEEK LEVEL I INTERNSHIP AND THE SCG APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. INCLUDING A 16-WEEL LEVEL II MENTORSHIP MODEL PRIMARILY IN THE FIELD ALONGSIDE THE SCG FARMERS. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE ESTABLISH AN ADVISORY PROBLEM-SOLVING COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TARGET POPULATION. CREATE EFFECTIVE MARKETING MATERIALS AND PROVIDE EFFECTIVE OUTREACH TO THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY DISPROPORTIONATE ENVIRONMENTAL AND/OR PUBLIC HEALTH HARMS. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE URBAN AND RURAL FARMERS RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT ALLOWS THEM TO INCREASE THEIR HOUSEHOLD/COMMUNITY FOOD SECURITY BY 30% AS MEASURED BY WORKSHOP PRE AND POST CERTIFICATE. THE PROJECT FACILITATES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE BUILDING THAT PROMOTES COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, FOSTERS FOOD SECURITY, AND PROMOTES LOCAL ECONOMIC RESILIENCE (INCLUDING DISASTER RESILIENCY). THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT ARE UNDERSERVED URBAN AND SURROUNDING AREAS IN GREENE COUNTY THAT ARE CONSIDERED RURAL ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE AND USDA. DATA FROM THE EPA'S EJSCREEN TOOL REVEALS THAT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CONCERNS ARE A FACTOR FOR GREENE COUNTY WITH HIGHER ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE INDEXES IN CENSUS TRACTS LOCATED IN LOW-INCOME.