The NC Community Development Initiative has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Triangle Community Foundation to undertake a community-based agriculture project at the A.M Howard Farm in Cary, NC. This project, part of a unique collaborative between the Initiative, Piedmont Conservation Council, The Conservation Fund, and the Conservation Trust for NC, will increase land access for local producers and expand community access to healthy foods.
“Ensuring access to fresh, local food is vital for developing sustainable, healthy communities,” said Tara Kenchen, President and CEO of the Initiative and Initiative Capital. “We’re extremely excited to work with these three organizations to implement an innovative solution to address this need.”
At the site, farmers will license up to two acres of land, and will have access to shared infrastructure and equipment. The farm will also include the development of a public agricultural education center to create a sense of community and awareness around local agriculture.
The Initiative would like to thank the Triangle Community Foundation for its commitment to promoting sustainability and community engagement, and for its recognition of the importance of private-public partnerships.
This project has been made possible with a grant from Triangle Community Foundation’s Support for Places: Environmental Conservation Public Benefit program.