Minnesota State Wire

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced the recipients of its Fiscal Year 2025 Urban Agriculture Grants, awarding a total of $1,692,957 to 33 projects across the state. The grants are designed to support youth agricultural education and foster agriculture-related community development in urban areas and on federally recognized tribal lands.

According to the MDA, these grants are part of an ongoing effort to strengthen urban agriculture and increase access to locally grown foods throughout Minnesota. Recipients include nonprofit organizations, schools and school districts, as well as local government entities. The funding will be used for a variety of purposes such as purchasing equipment, making physical improvements, and supporting staff involved in delivering urban agriculture programs.

"The Urban Agriculture Grant Program is funded through the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program. Through AGRI the MDA administers grants to farmers, agribusinesses, schools, and more throughout Minnesota to advance the state’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors," stated the department.

Projects funded this year reflect a broad range of initiatives aimed at engaging communities in sustainable food production and education. For example:

- Appetite For Change in Minneapolis will involve North Minneapolis youth in paid hands-on training at urban farms with a goal for participants to grow and donate 7,500 pounds of produce.

- Augsburg University will upgrade its community garden infrastructure in Cedar-Riverside while hosting multilingual events that promote culturally relevant gardening practices.

- Boys & Girls Club of the Bemidji Area plans to revitalize its garden space by introducing new curriculum elements and sustainability measures such as rainwater capture systems.

- Child Care Choices Inc., operating under Milestones in Waite Park and other locations, aims to equip over 100 family child care educators with resources for integrating urban agriculture into their programs—reaching more than 600 children annually.

- Freedom Farms MPLS intends to transform a vacant lot into a green space offering workshops on farming and sustainability while promoting food security.

Other grantees include organizations focused on specific populations or needs. Friendly Hmong Farms LLC will develop professional opportunities for Hmong women farmers; Darling Little Farm in St. Paul will offer weekly workshops tailored for persons with disabilities; Irreducible Grace Foundation plans expanded engagement with Black youth using heritage gardening methods; Lower Phalen Creek Project is establishing accessible demonstration gardens at Wakan Tipi Center.

Many school-based projects also received support: Hermantown Community Schools will create learning gardens for young students; Humboldt High School Garden Project is expanding with orchards and irrigation systems; Owatonna Alternative Learning Center is implementing hydroponic agriculture programming.

Additional recipients include Sustainable Farming Association’s Twin Cities Metro Growers Network—which provides networking events for urban growers—and Textile Center’s Dye Garden expansion along University Avenue in Minneapolis.

The grant program continues MDA's broader mission through AGRI funding streams that aim to bolster both traditional farming communities and emerging agricultural models within cities across Minnesota. By focusing on education, accessibility, cultural relevance, job creation, environmental stewardship, and food security these projects seek long-term impact beyond immediate harvests.

A full list of funded projects is available from the MDA upon request.

"The Urban Agriculture Grant Program is funded through the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program. Through AGRI the MDA administers grants to farmers, agribusinesses, schools, and more throughout Minnesota to advance the state’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors," reiterated an official statement from the department.