Johnson County awards Food and Farm grants to farms, nonprofits

A grant was also awarded to a North Liberty Latino market

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors recently voted to distribute funding to nine Community Food and Farm Grant awardees.

The award recipients were:

  • Center for Worker Justice – $5,000
  • Echollective Farm – $15,000
  • El Azul – $10,000
  • IC Compassion – $15,000
  • Nam and Anna’s Garden – $8,500
  • Over the Moon Farm and Flowers – $14,000
  • Poimen Bosko Foods – $15,000
  • Simon Bwayo – $2,500
  • Williams Topsoil – $15,000

In November 2021, the Board of Supervisors invested $200,000 of Local Fiscal Recovery Funds received through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support local food initiatives and increase food security. Of that investment, $100,000 funded the inaugural cycle of the Community Food and Farm Grant.

The Community Food and Farm Grant addresses the need for supporting fresh, nutritious food grown by local farms by funding projects that increase community-based food production, processing and distribution capacity in Johnson County.

Applicants could request $1,000-$25,000 to fund costs such as purchase of equipment and supplies for growing, processing or distributing food, business development opportunities, or creation of free food distribution sites.

Applications closed in October. The county received 126 applications in a one month period.

More information can be found on Johnson County’s website.

Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County and the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic were recently awarded preliminary funding from Iowa City Council using ARPA funds. Funds will be used to expand medical services and renovate a community center.