Recirculating Farms Coalition

GROWING LOCAL LOUISIANA: TRAINING AND MENTORING BEGINNING FARMERS

TO PROVIDE FARMING EDUCATION, TRAINING, CONNECTIONS TO USDA PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT INTERNSHIPS AND MENTORING TO MILITARY VETERANS.

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** GROWING LOCAL: SUPPORTING AND DEVELOPING NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA

RECIRCULATING FARMS COALITION: GROWING LOCAL - TRAINING NEW AND BEGINNING SUSTAINABLE URBAN FARMERS IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA SUFFERS FROM FOOD AND ECONOMIC INSECURITY. NEARLY 1/3 OF LOUISIANA'S VETERANS RESIDE HERE, AND LACK ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD AND MEANINGFUL WORK OPPORTUNITIES. TO PROVIDE MORE ACCESSIBLE FRESH FOOD FOR VETERANS AND BROADER COMMUNITY, AND CREATE JOB/VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN FOOD/FARMING BUSINESSES FOR VETERANS, COMMUNITY-BASED NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS, AND OUR REGIONAL VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) WILL HOST 6 OUTREACH MEETINGS, 29 2-HOUR CLASSES AND 12 6-HOUR WEEKEND-DAY CLASSES, OVER 3-YEARS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, INCLUDING THE VA, AND PROVIDE: FARMING EDUCATION, TRAINING, INTERNSHIPS AND MENTORING TO VETERANS. VARIETY IN DAYS/TIMES/SITES ALLOWS PARTICIPATION OF VETERANS FROM ASSORTED ETHNIC/RELIGIOUS/SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT SUPPORTS EXPANSION OF THE VA GROWING PROGRAM, USING VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, OFFERING VETERANS IMMERSIVE TRAINING IN A FAMILIAR/COMFORTABLE SETTING. THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA VA IN NEW ORLEANS HAS 66,000 REGISTERED USERS FROM 23 PARISHES (COUNTIES), AND OFFERS DIRECT CONNECTIONS TO VETERANS WHO COME FOR TREATMENT AND RECREATION; SOME RESIDE ON-SITE. THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA VETERANS GAINING KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE, HANDS-ON/IMMERSIVE FARM PROGRAMS, LEADING TO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN FOOD/AGRICULTURAL, TO MEET NEEDS OF VETERANS AND BROADER COMMUNITY. OUR TARGET AUDIENCE INCLUDES VETERANS, STUDENT-VETERANS, ACTIVE MILITARY TRANSITIONING TO VETERANS, WOMEN-VETERANS AND THOSE FROM SOCIALLY/ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS. ALL SESSIONS WILL BE VIDEO-RECORDED. SOME MAY BE VIRTUAL, COVID19 DEPENDENT, FOR THOSE UNABLE TO ATTEND IN-PERSON, AND TO USE AS A REFRESHER, AND ONGOING FUTURE TRAINING. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE OFFERED INTERNSHIPS AT WORKING FARMS AND THE VA, AND MATCHED WITH LOCAL MENTOR-FARMERS FOR LONG-TERM SUPPORT ON FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

PROMOTE AWARENESS OF

GROWING NEW SUSTAINABLE URBAN FARMERS IN GREATER NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT PROGRAM

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.