It’s no secret by now that urban gardening introduces a host of potential benefits to the communities that grow their own foods. It’s such a game changer that neighborhoods in cities large and small are investigating ways to develop gardens, whether in community green spaces or on balconies and roofs of residential buildings.
The problem, as always, is that you have to spend money to make money—or in this case, to grow your own food. Developing an urban garden or a system of gardens to support the community takes time, training, equipment, and labor. No neighborhood garden is free. Fortunately, there are grants available in a wide range of funding amounts, with some of the largest urban gardening plans receiving over a million dollars.
So, how can you get your hands on funding for your urban garden? Let’s take a look.
Start With a DUNS Number
Now, not all funding opportunities will require this, but if you want to apply for any federal funding—and most funding will come from the government—you’ll need this.
You can apply by calling (866) 705-5711. Just tell the operator that you need to register a DUNS number so you can apply for a federal financial assistance program, and they will walk you through the rest.
If calling people isn’t your thing, you can apply online, too. This page will walk you through every step, from start to finish. You can also search DUNS numbers to make sure no one else in your area has applied before. This could get you moving more quickly if someone in your organization already has a number.
Register at SAM.gov
Again, this step isn’t always necessary if you’re applying for funding outside of programs offered by the federal government, but it’s a good idea to go ahead and take care of this step just in case.
Just head over to SAM.gov and fill out all the forms. The program will walk you through everything, and there are instructions available at any time in case you get stuck.
Now Apply for Grants
The grants available could depend on the type of crops you plan to grow, how you plan to use the food you produce, how much space you have to develop a garden, and more. Be sure to investigate the details of any grant before filling out the forms.
Here’s a list of the potential grants available and the amount you could possibly receive:
- Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP)
- $100,000 to $16 million
- Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)
- $2,500 to $100,000 per year for up to 2 years
- Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)
- Up to $250,000 per year for three years
- Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program (CFP)
- $10,000 to $300,000 for one to three years
- Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)
- $1,000 to $350,000
As with any endeavor, you can’t win if you don’t try. One of these grants could be life-changing for your entire community, so research which is right for your needs and get started right away.