Somerville Urban Agriculture Project Receives $9K in State Funding

SOMERVILLE, MA – Groundwork Somerville received $9,000 in state funding as part of the Baker-Polito administration's urban agriculture project grants.

The state awarded a total of $108,266 to five projects in support of the emerging urban agriculture sector in Massachusetts. The Department of Agricultural Resources' Urban Agriculture Program, through which the grants are funded, aims to increase the production, processing and marketing of produce grown in urban areas and provide city residents access to fresh food.

"Urban farming has an opportunity to play a major role in the healthy food options available in Massachusetts communities," said Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. "Our administration is proud to support the Urban Agriculture Program and the anticipated economic and environmental benefits that urban farming initiatives will bring to residents of the Commonwealth."

Groundwork Somerville will utilize its funding to improve soil fertility at the South Street Farms and install structures to create vertical growing spaces. The grant will also go toward outfitting its greenhouse with irrigation and heat retention systems, as well as cold frames for season extension.

"Urban farming is an important economic driver in communities that can use it most, providing jobs that support fresh, locally grown food," Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton said in a statement. "The Baker-Polito Administration is committed to ensuring the future of Massachusetts urban farming by promoting local and youth engagement in sustaining our food supply through grassroots efforts."

The Urban Agriculture Program was launched in 2014 and has since awarded five rounds of funding, which has provided support for more than 45 projects and four state-wide urban agriculture conferences.

This round of grants also awarded funding to the City of Boston and two urban agriculture projects in Boston and one in Lowell.

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