Urban Grower Success Micro-Grant

The Urban Grower Success Micro-Grant is a funding initiative of the Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD), launched in partnership with Grow Pittsburgh, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, Hilltop Urban Farm, Chatham University, and the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council. This grant aims to strengthen the local food system by supporting short-term, high-impact urban agriculture projects in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Funding for this program is made available through a USDA Urban and Innovative Agriculture Grant and is administered in collaboration with To Improve Mississippi Economics, Inc. (TIME Inc.). Projects must align with USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) broad definition of urban agriculture and support the expansion of farming, food access, and environmental sustainability within urban areas. Eligible applicants include individual urban agricultural producers, non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, Tribal entities, and for-profit urban agriculture businesses. Applicants must currently be involved in food production and land stewardship within Allegheny County. Each applicant or organization may submit only one proposal, which can include multiple sites. The application window opens August 1, 2025, and closes October 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM. Award notifications are expected by January 1, 2026, with award agreements finalized in February 2026. Projects must be implemented between March 1 and November 1, 2026, and final reports are due by December 1, 2026. Applicants may request funding between $500 and $8,000. This is a one-time reimbursement or advance-based grant. Recipients may request a 70% advance, with the remaining 30% disbursed after submission of final documentation. There is no match requirement, but if the total project cost exceeds the grant request, applicants must demonstrate additional secured funding. Eligible uses of funds include land acquisition, education and training, infrastructure development, conservation practices, and equipment purchases. Ineligible uses include loan repayment and non-project-specific expenses. All awarded projects must comply with NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) requirements if applicable, and a site-specific review may be required by the USDA before funds are released. Applications are reviewed by a committee including representatives from partner organizations, ACCD staff, and USDA FSA. All awards are contingent on final USDA and TIME Inc. approval. Questions and submissions can be directed to Hayly Hoch at hhoch@accdpa.org.

Use the provided budget template, allow time for NEPA review, and attend Q&A or office hours for support.