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Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program

The Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program provides funding as a reimbursement grant to eligible applicants seeking to improve urban agriculture infrastructure in Pennsylvania.

These grants will build out the infrastructure of urban agriculture by investing in the system, filling gaps, encouraging entities to work together, finding ways to bring operations to a greater scale, overcoming food deserts, and opening opportunities for people to become social entrepreneurs.

Guidelines & Uses

Grants may be used for expenses related to the following projects:

    • Projects must include improvements to agricultural infrastructure in urban areas and support for community development in the project service area.
    • They may further include improvement or creation of programs that aggregate agricultural products in urban areas and promote the sharing of resources among urban agricultural entities.
    • Grant awards may not be used to cover in-kind contributions or to reimburse wages or salaries of grant recipient staff.

Funding Opportunities

Two types of grants will be awarded. These include "microgrants" and "collaboration" grants.

    • Micro Grants for one-time projects or a single entity applicant. Maximum grant amount for these applications is $2,500, not to exceed 85% of project costs. This means that applicants will only be required to match 15% of the total grant amount.
    • Collaboration Grants which demonstrate cooperative or regional efforts which share resources, aggregate agricultural products or producers, promote the sharing of resources among agricultural entities, and support community development. These applications should include several partners in a project, and have a maximum grant amount of $50,000, not to exceed 85% of project costs. This means that applicants will only be required to match 15% of the total grant amount.

Eligible & Ineligible Costs

Eligible Costs

    • Gardening/growing equipment
    • Green houses/hoop houses
    • Utility connections/off-grid energy or water systems
    • Contracted labor/installations
    • Harvesting equipment
    • Cold storage/temperature control equipment
    • Soil remediation
    • Soil amendments
    • Lighting (for growing only)
    • Soil testing
    • Site design or planning (contracted)

Ineligible Costs

    • Any purchases made outside the contract period
    • Wages/stipends
    • Vehicles
    • Computers, tablets, phones
    • Rent
    • Utility bills
    • Software
    • Political contributions
    • Land rental or purchase
    • Livestock
    • Animal feed
    • Advertising (That is not located on site)
    • Administrative costs
    • Ineligible Matching Funds
    • All items listed as "Ineligible Costs"
    • In kind services

Projects must be located in an urban area.  


How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the Single Application for Assistance online application system. Application period closed on September 1, 2023 at 5 pm.

Learn how to apply online on DCED's Single Application information site

Reporting Requirements

Provide information and between four to 10 photographs about the Urban Ag project and describe the impact of the grant.

Funded Projects