By Andi Anderson
Nineteen local farms across Illinois are set to receive a boost in funding totaling $1.8 million through the Local Food and Infrastructure Grant Program. Managed by the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, these grants aim to enhance the ability of farms to produce and distribute food within the state.
The grants, funded by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, were recently announced at a Capitol news conference attended by bipartisan state legislators and representatives from the Illinois Stewardship Alliance. Among the recipients are several farms in the Chicagoland area, with five of them receiving the maximum grant amount of $150,000 each.
One such recipient is The Flock Farm in southern Illinois, owned by marine veteran Brent Glays. Glays plans to utilize the grant to establish a local poultry processing center approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition to processing meat, the facility will serve as an educational hub, offering workshops on humane animal raising practices, food safety management, and regulations.
Similarly, Eden Place Farms in Chicago will benefit from a $150,000 grant to develop new kitchen, storage, and processing infrastructure. Founder Michael Howard sees this as a significant step for urban farms, marking the first tangible funding support from Springfield.
Despite not being included in Gov. JB Pritzker's proposed budget, advocates, including the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, are pushing for legislation to make the grant program permanent. Senate Bill 3077 aims to establish an ongoing Local Food Infrastructure Grant program with an annual funding of at least $2 million. Sen. Dale Fowler, one of the bill's sponsors, believes this initiative is crucial for addressing food deserts and insecurities across the state.
The bill has garnered unanimous support from the Senate Agriculture Committee, reflecting bipartisan recognition of the program's importance. Advocates hope for its successful passage to ensure continued support for local food infrastructure development in Illinois.
As the state looks towards a more resilient and sustainable food system, these grants play a vital role in empowering local farmers and communities to enhance food production and distribution capabilities.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-valentinrussanov
Categories: Illinois, General