Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (FSWCD) in support of their Columbus Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant program.
The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (FSWCD) is one (1) of eighty-eight (88) soil and water conservation districts in Ohio. Their mission is to promote responsible land use decisions for the conservation, protection and improvement of soil and water resources by providing information and assistance through effective partnering, technical guidance and education.
The purpose of the Urban Agriculture Grant is to strengthen the local food supply chain, increase food crop production, processing, and distribution via sale/donation by local urban farms, accelerate the ability of local growers to scale up their operations, and ensure support for socially disadvantaged farmers (e.g. BIPOC, women, and low-income growers). The targeted population will be urban growers (both for-profit and non-profit) within the City of Columbus, with preference given to smaller farms, socially disadvantaged farmers, and farms that have not received funding through our Urban Agriculture Grant program in the past.
FSWCD will execute site visits to confirm implementation and usage of critical infrastructure to confirm implementation of critical infrastructure, keep a record of each grantee's needs and capacities and any connections made to additional resources, and ensure equity is considered as part of both the grant evaluation process and any technical assistance provided during the grant. This grant will be used for reimbursements or direct payments to vendors for infrastructure related projects such as waterlines, greenhouse improvements, compost infrastructure, harvesting equipment, etc. Exact breakdowns of costs are included in the attached budget.
Emergency action is required because due to unlimited unrestricted funds, upfront funding is needed to ensure t...
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