The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has awarded $2.5 million to 51 organizations as part of the third round of the Urban Farms and Community Gardens Grant Program. The funding, included in the Fiscal Year 2025 and 2026 state budgets, aims to support community growing spaces that play a role in local food resiliency and food security.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball stated, “The Urban Farms and Community Gardens program continues to grow year over year, demonstrating the significance of these growing spaces that are integral to a strong, reliable food supply. These projects span across the entirety of our state, helping to meet the needs of our communities, which is more important now than ever before. I congratulate all the awardees and applaud their vision for expanded growing spaces and enhanced educational programming, helping to directly connect our communities to agriculture.”
The grants will be used by urban farms and community gardens across several regions—including New York City, Long Island, Western New York, Central New York, and others—to expand gardens, build structures, purchase equipment, and develop educational programs focused on food production and distribution.
Recipients include schools such as Albany City School District and Whitney Point School District; nonprofits like Capital Roots Inc., Grassroots Gardens of Western New York, Common Ground Farm Inc.; as well as organizations such as Bronx River Alliance and The New York Botanical Garden.
Previous rounds of this grant program distributed $800,000 to 35 organizations in Round 1 and $1 million to 22 organizations in Round 2.
Alongside this grant initiative, other state programs—such as the Community Gardens Leadership Certificate Program and Soil Testing Program—are also in place to support community gardens. These efforts are part of broader initiatives including Nourish New York and Farm-to-School Programs that seek to strengthen local food systems while providing new markets for farmers.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Markets, there are more than 3,000 registered or permitted urban and community gardens throughout New York State. The department works with community groups to facilitate use of vacant properties for gardening purposes while offering technical assistance statewide.
