Recipients of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s 2025 Urban Agriculture Grant will be awarded a total of $1,692,957 across 33 projects aimed at enhancing urban agriculture and improving access to locally grown foods across the state.
The grant program, an initiative under the Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation framework, is designed to promote youth agricultural education and agriculture-linked community development in urban areas — with eligibility extending to cities over 5,000 in population and communities on federally recognized tribal lands, regardless of population size.
Awardees include a range of nonprofits, schools, school districts and local government entities. Projects funded under this initiative are diverse, covering a spectrum of needs from infrastructure enhancements to staffing support and curriculum development.
One example is Appetite For Change, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit. Through its project, youth in North Minneapolis will participate in paid, hands-on agricultural training at urban farms. The program is set to engage 30 young participants who will cultivate and donate an estimated 7,500 pounds of produce. In addition, the project includes the creation of a customized curriculum to ensure lasting community impact.
Another awardee is Urban Roots MN, a Saint Paul–based nonprofit focused on youth empowerment through hands-on agriculture. Its grant funds will go toward supporting the Market Garden Program and Community Garden Program by improving water infrastructure, covering staff wages, providing mentor stipends and purchasing necessary farm equipment.
By investing nearly $1.7 million in these projects, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture says it is reinforcing its commitment to sustainable and inclusive agricultural growth, bridging urban communities with hands-on food production and education.
