The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) Competitive Grants to support urban agriculture and innovative food production.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), under the OUAIP, is soliciting applications from eligible entities to host the UAIP Competitive Grants pilot project. Eligible entities for this opportunity are limited to the following: nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS; units of local government; a Tribal Government; and schools serving grades kindergarten through grade 12 (see section C. Eligibility Information).

The primary goal of the UAIP pilot project is to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production. The two types of UAIP grants being made available for application under this NFO are Planning Projects and Implementation Projects. Planning Projects are for supporting the development of projects that will either initiate, build upon, or expand the efforts of farmers, gardeners, citizens, government officials, schools, members of tribal communities, and other stakeholders in areas where access to fresh foods are limited or unavailable. Implementation Projects are for accelerating existing and emerging models of urban and/or innovative agricultural practices that serve multiple farmers or gardeners. Innovation may include new and emerging, as well as traditional or indigenous, agricultural practices.

A webinar has been pre-recorded and is available at https://youtu.be/hgVgYgU9SU0 and the presentation and supporting information are posted in the “Related Documents” tab of this opportunity. The recorded webinar is also available on http://www.usda.gov/topics/urban/grants.