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USDA Announces Grants and Technical Assistance Funding for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production

USDA is providing a total of $14.4 million in grants and technical assistance through two separately funded projects to support urban agriculture and innovative production. USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) is making available $2.5 million for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) grants, building on $53.7 million invested in UAIP grant projects by OUAIP since 2020.

Urban - Travel Together Conference

Traveling Together: The Many Paths of Community Engaged Research

Dual Crises: Housing in a Changing Climate

Americans are struggling more than ever to find and maintain housing they can afford. The climate crisis is only making things worse. In this series, Shelterforce takes a deeper look at the intersection of housing and climate change, and the threat a changing climate poses to the nation’s stock of affordable housing. What are some of the possible solutions and challenges to confront that threat? See articles in this series.

2026 National Urban Extension Conference

Save May 11-14, 2026 on your calendar for the National Urban Extension Conference (NUEC) to be hosted in Detroit by Michigan State University Extension. This upcoming event’s focus will be on Driving Innovation Ahead. NUEC provides opportunities for Extension professionals from all program areas to share their research and innovative educational strategies that address the needs of urban, suburban, and peri-urban populations as well as urban-rural interdependencies.

Ohio State Faculty, Industry Experts Offer Affordable Housing Solutions

Though affordable homes and rental units are in short supply in Columbus and many cities across the country, there are a number of strategies that can make housing more accessible, according to industry experts who shared insights during a speaker series presented this fall by The Ohio State University’s Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (CURA).

Healthy School Meals for All in Colorado

Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program provides free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of economic background, and aims to strengthen farm-to-school systems and school food service workers’ pay. After unexpected increases in student participation, the program faced a significant budget shortfall that raised warning flags for program sustainability. In response, Colorado’s Joint Budget Committee called for a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to develop policy options that balance revenue and expenditures to be considered during the 2025 legislative session.

The State of Housing in Central Ohio

Projects Expand Urban Agriculture Opportunities

Urban agriculture was a central theme at the National Agricultural Marketing Summit November 13-15. USDA’s new urban service centers were among the key projects highlighted during a Thursday morning opening plenary, “Urban Agriculture: A Growing Movement.”

Urban Agriculture Magazine Survey

The Urban Agriculture Magazine is about to enter its 25th year. With 41 issues published since 2000, RUAF is conducting a short survey to learn more about our readers, how you have used the magazine to date, and your views on plans for the future.

Ohio 4-H Brings Agriculture to the Cities

Outside of our rural communities, 4-H programming continues to thrive in our urban centers. In addition to helping youth understand the importance of STEM, healthy living, and career readiness education, 4-H professionals in Ohio’s urban counties are ensuring that youth know about the integral role the agriculture industry plays in our lives. Read more.