Solidarity Urban Farms, city receive USDA grant

LORAIN — Lorain and several partner organizations were awarded a federal grant for urban agriculture. The city, alongside Second Harvest Food Bank, Lorain County Public Health and Solidarity Urban Farms, received $207,174 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support the Food Forward Lorain Initiative. The city matched the USDA funds with $39,409 in local funding, helping to create, improve and expand access to healthy food in neighborhoods throughout the city, according to a news release. The project was one of 52 selected for federal funding. "Food Forward Lorain is focused on creating access to healthy food, and urban farming produces a direct connection for community members to healthy, wholesome fruits and vegetables grown right in the city of Lorain, Second Harvest President and CEO Julie Chase-Morefield said in the release. Solidarity Urban Farms, through the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, provides 15,000 meals in the city. The program started in one vacant lot near the church but grew to encompass eight others since its inception. Jim Goforth, the gardener behind the project, started growing food several years ago, selling seasonal produce at markets before partnering with the nearby church. In 2020 Food Forward Lorain began as a joint project between Second harvest and Lorain County Public Health to create, improve and expand access to healthy food within the city. It centers on economic development through its urban farms and retail, health and food access, health care partnerships and connecting residents to food through technology and transportation networks. The grant will allow Second Harvest to build on its ProjectDash pilot program to deliver food to low-income seniors in the city via DoorDash, as well as support several AmeriCorps positions at Solidarity Urban Farms to increase its production.