December 1, 2021
Applications open for Sustainable Food and Agriculture Fund
Boulder County will allocate up to $405,000; deadline to apply is Jan. 5, 2022
Boulder County, CO —Boulder County’s Office of Sustainability, Climate Action & Resilience invites farmers, agricultural producers, the private sector, and non-profit organizations to apply for funding to accelerate and launch environmental sustainability projects that benefit Boulder County's food system. Pending Boulder County Commissioner formal board approval of the 2022 budget, $405,000 has been set aside for sustainability-focused initiatives that address the priority needs of local farmers and agricultural producers.
“As we launch the third year of this fund, it's inspiring to see this program continue to grow, demonstrating our farming community's commitment to implementing regenerative land practices that create a climate resilient food system," said Deandra Croissant, Boulder County Sustainability Specialist. "We've been impressed by the innovation and range of the 2021 projects, with grantees working on everything from expanding sustainable ag education to testing the benefits of mushroom compost for soil health.”
This funding opportunity is provided to impact four broad areas within local food and agriculture including:
- On-farm regenerative agriculture and soil health practices
- Farmer/producer education, conferences, and workshops that focus on sustainable and regenerative agriculture demonstrations
- On-farm and farmer’s market infrastructure
- Sustainable local food and crop production
- Programmatic and resource support for frontline farm workers and organizations
Any registered business, official non-profit organization, or government entity can apply for funding at a minimum of $40,000 to a maximum of $150,000 per project or apply to the small project fund at a minimum of $2,000 to a maximum of $5,000.
To apply, visit boco.org/SustainableFoodAgFund
Application materials must be submitted by Jan. 5, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. for consideration.
Kena and Mark Guttridge of Ollin Farms, 2020 Sustainable Food and Agriculture Fund grant recipients.
*Background
About the Boulder County Sustainable Food and Agriculture Fund:
The Sustainable Food and Agriculture Fund is supported by Sustainability Tax revenue. In November 2016, voters approved the Sustainability Tax ballot initiative to allocate a portion of sales and use tax revenue to fund sustainability infrastructure and programs. Please see the 2018 Environmental Sustainability Plan for more information about Boulder County’s food and agriculture goals.
In 2021, the Boulder County Sustainable Food and Agriculture Fund received 58 applications and a total of $2.4 million in requests. Roughly $305,000 was awarded to 11 farms and organizations. Seven projects were selected for the large fund: Boulder Valley School District, Flatiron Young Farmers Coalition, Garden to Table, Growing Gardens, Isabelle Farm, Kilt Farm, and Red Wagon Farm; and four projects were selected for the small fund: Boulder Mushroom, Community Table Farm, Dharmas Garden, and Earth's Table.
The following regenerative agriculture practices are being completed in Boulder County by the 2021 grantees: development of educational programs, food processing, fungal inoculation, compost application, perennial planting, cover cropping, regenerative grazing, no-till drilling, and smart irrigation. These practices increase soil nutrient levels, support local food and crop production, create a healthy ecosystem, sequester carbon, and help crops become more resistant in the face of climate change.
For more information about this program, visit boco.org/SustainableFoodAgFund or contact Deandra Croissant at dcroissant@bouldercounty.org. For more information about Boulder County’s sustainability mission and to learn about other programs, please contact Christian Herrmann at cherrmann@bouldercounty.org.
Mission of the Office of Sustainability, Climate Action & Resilience
Our mission is to advance policies and programs that conserve resources, protect the environment, and safeguard our climate in order to build a sustainable, just, and resilient community.