INDIANAPOLIS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $900,000 is available for local governments to start or host a Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction pilot project.
Jill Reinhart, Indiana Natural Resources Conservation Services assistant state conservationist, said NRCS was recently named the lead agency for urban agriculture in the country.
The USDA funding will be part of a cooperative agreement that will help fund projects that develop and test strategies for the planning and implementation of municipal compost and food reduction plans.
Reinhart said proposals must be for two-year projects and the cooperative agreement plan, which should be led by local government officials, should focus on the following areas:
• Generating compost.
• Increased access to compost for agricultural producers.
• Reduce the reliance on and limit use of fertilizer.
• Improve soil quality.
• Encourage waste management and permaculture business development.
• Increase rainwater absorption.
• Reduce municipal food waste.
• Divert food waste from landfills.
“Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate economic benefits and making compost more accessible to farmers,” Reinhart said.
Reinhart said the cooperative agreement is geared toward local governments that are working with their communities to help eliminate food waste and start composting projects in their community.
This opportunity requires a 25% match from the group applying for the funding, which can either be in the form of cash, supplies, services or in-kind donations.
A webinar explaining more about the agreement and its requirements will be held on June 4. More information about the webinar can be found at: www.farmers.gov/manage/urban/opportunities.
Proposals are due by June 26 and should be submitted at grants.gov.