Columbia Center For Urban Agriculture

Columbia Center For Urban Agriculture, doing business as Billy, is a tax-exempt non-profit organization registered to receive federal grants and cooperative agreements. The organization specializes in urban agriculture, regenerative farming practices, and conservation programs. Through federal grant awards, Columbia Center For Urban Agriculture provides outreach, education, and assistance related to urban agriculture and conservation programs to agricultural producers, women landowners, and historically underserved producers in Missouri. Their work encompasses demonstrating urban land remediation for specialty crop production, promoting regenerative agriculture, and supporting Farm Bill conservation program opportunities.

The organization has received multiple federal grant awards from the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a civilian agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These awards include a $495,903.77 Project Grant under the Soil and Water Conservation program (CFDA 10.902) to demonstrate urban land remediation for specialty crop production over a three-year period. They also received a cooperative agreement to support, educate, and promote regenerative agriculture and Farm Bill conservation program opportunities to agricultural producers, women landowners, and historically underserved producers. Additionally, Columbia Center For Urban Agriculture was awarded a $299,473.68 Project Grant under the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production program (CFDA 10.935) to address the backlog of urban agriculture projects in Missouri through December 2025. As a sub-awardee in partnership with the University of Missouri System, the organization expands outreach on project incentives to small and underserved producers, distributes information through various channels, and facilitates technical assistance linkages. This collaboration involves supporting connections between producers and technical assistance providers, including the Lincoln University Innovative Small Farmer's Outreach Program and University of Missouri Extension.