The City of Chicago has launched a program aimed at promoting urban agriculture in marginalized communities.
According to a press release from the city of Chicago, the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), along with partner agency NeighborSpace, announced the opening of the first round of applications for the City's Community Growers Program until April 1, 2023. The program will be administered by NeighborSpace, selected through a competitive Request for Proposal process, and will be overseen by a collective of partner organizations, including Chicago Food Policy Action Committee, Community Food Navigator, DePaul Steans Center, Grow Greater Englewood and more, according to a press release from the city.
"The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of our food system and the inequities embedded within it," former Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot said, according to the press release. "Through the Community Growers Program, we will enable us to use our urban agriculture to create a more equitable and resilient food system and supply food insecure residents with healthy and abundant options."
The $2M Community Growers Program is a partnership between the City of Chicago Food Equity Council as well as NeighborSpace, with the aim of promoting urban agriculture in communities with a history of disinvestment. This initiative is expected to increase food equity by encouraging local growers to develop urban agriculture sites. The program will offer residents in these communities more options to access fresh produce and create wealth-building opportunities for growers, according to the press release.
“This program builds on the work of countless farmers and gardeners who have been growing food in Chicago for generations by permanently expanding the footprint of urban agriculture in our City,” said Ben Helphand, Executive Director of NeighborSpace. “Importantly, the program will target its support to those growers who have not previously had access to a lot of resources and institutional support.”
Visitors can find more information about the Community Growers Program and BACP’s Recovery Plan efforts at Chicago.gov/BACPRecoveryPlan.