Missouri Coalition for the Environment developed the Known & Grown STL program to build a resilient, equitable food community by supporting and promoting farmers within 150 miles of St. Louis that demonstrate environmental stewardship through humane and chemical-free farming practices.
Historically underserved farmers are integral to a resilient and equitable food community. However they face many barriers to success in adopting good environmental practices and running a farming business in general.
Known & Grown STL is awarding 6 microgrants of up to $1000 each to historically underserved farmers in north St Louis for projects that develop or improve environmental stewardship practices on their farm.
Environmental stewardship includes practices that protect and preserve the quality of our soil, air, and water, promote biodiversity, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The goal of these grants is to improve our food system by supporting sustainable farming practices that provide healthy, nutrient-dense food to the local, north St Louis community. See our Sample Projects for a more detailed description of environment stewardship practices and examples of potential projects. Technical assistance is available in addition to the financial award.
Thanks to a generous match from A.C.R.E.S., we are able to double the number of microgrants we were initially able to offer. We hope this will be the first of many years that we are able to distribute microgrants into the hands of farmers in our community. We are actively seeking more funding to expand the footprint of our microgrants and be able to offer them to more farmers.
Who can Apply:
Nonprofit and for-profit farmers who reside and/or farm within north St Louis or north county. Preference will be given to applicants that both live and farm within the footprint.
How to Apply:
Email proposals to rmiller@moenvironment.org by Friday, June 9th.
What to include in your proposal:
- Contact info
- Physical farm address
- Brief description of your farm
- Where do you sell your products and who are your customers?
- Description of proposed project, including an estimated timeline
- Proposed budget (labor to complete the project may be included)
- Explain the following: How will your project benefit the environment and your community?
Financial awards are given prior to the start of the project but are dependent on the completion of the project. Awardees must provide an estimated date of completion. One or more check-ins will occur during the project period. If a project will not be completed by the estimated date, a written letter must be provided explaining the delay and must include a new estimated completion date. Failure to complete the project may result in a partial or complete revocation of the amount awarded.
Timeline:
Grant proposals due: Friday, June 9th
Grant awardees selected: Monday, June 19th
Awards distributed: Funds made available 21-28 days after awardees are notified
Project check-in: 3 months or at the halfway point of the project period
Projects must be completed by: The end of this year, however extensions can be available on a case-by-case basis
These microgrants are funded in part by Building Resilient Inclusive Communities (BRIC). BRIC is a program of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) Center for Advancing Healthy Communities. NACDD and its more than 7,000 Members seek to improve the health of the public by strengthening leadership and expertise for chronic disease prevention and control in states, territories, and at the national level. The BRIC program is engaging communities to address food and nutrition security, safe physical activity access, and social connectedness through policy, systems, and environmental change strategies.
A generous match is provided by A.C.R.E.S. (Agriculture for Community Restoration, Economic Justice, & Sustainability) to support an additional 3 microgrants bringing our total offering to 6 farmers. Their mission is to build community power with Black neighborhoods, urban and rural farmers, assisting in creating an equitable and sustainable food system. A food system rooted in culture.