WILKINSBURG, PA — Pennsylvania officials have awarded nearly $500,000 in grants to urban agriculture projects statewide, aiming to increase access to fresh food and address longstanding barriers to farming in city environments.
What This Means for You
- New funding will support urban farms, community gardens, and food access projects across 13 counties
- Investments target barriers like poor soil, limited land, and lack of storage infrastructure
- More locally grown food could become available in underserved neighborhoods
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced 21 Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grants totaling $499,480 on Wednesday, with projects spanning counties including Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, and Philadelphia.
The grants are designed to address challenges unique to urban farming — including soil contamination, limited access to land, and insufficient storage — that can restrict food production in cities.
How the Funding Will Be Used
Funded projects include investments in greenhouses, irrigation systems, cold storage, rooftop and school gardens, and soil improvements.
Some grants also support collaborative efforts among multiple farms, allowing them to share resources and expand access to fresh produce in neighborhoods that may lack grocery stores.
The program provides smaller “microgrants” of $2,500 in matching funds for single projects, as well as larger collaboration grants of up to $50,000 for regional partnerships — meaning recipients must contribute matching funds to receive the award.
State officials said the initiative is part of the Pennsylvania Farm Bill, a broader package of programs intended to support agriculture and food systems across the Commonwealth.
“Urban Ag grants are providing tools that help Pennsylvanians change Pennsylvania cities for the better,” Redding said, citing efforts to improve access to fresh food and rehabilitate urban soil.
Local Impact Across Pennsylvania
The 21 projects span 13 counties, including a $38,250 grant to Trellis for Tomorrow in Chester County to support an agricultural learning center providing produce and education to the Pottstown area.
Other projects include expanded cold storage, irrigation upgrades, and community garden infrastructure aimed at increasing production and improving food distribution in urban neighborhoods.
In Delaware and Philadelphia counties, a $37,000 grant will support irrigation and storage improvements at community farms in Chester and Philadelphia, helping increase production for low-income households.
Broader Goals
State officials said the program is intended to improve food access in areas where fresh options are limited, while also addressing economic and social barriers tied to agriculture in urban settings.
Since 2019, Pennsylvania has invested more than $3.7 million in urban agriculture infrastructure, supporting 180 projects statewide.
Officials said those efforts have helped expand food access, address inequities, and support local economies by strengthening community-based agriculture initiatives.
Next Steps
Grant-funded projects are expected to move forward with infrastructure improvements and expanded production in the coming months.
More information about the program, including past recipients and additional resources, is available through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
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