CHARLESTON, S.C. — South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED), in partnership with United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), announced today six (6) awardees of the 2023 Hoop House Grants.
The grant awards were offered through USDA-NRCS’ South Carolina Food Connection Community Gardens Project, which supports the creation and growth of community gardens and hoop houses in food insecure areas and among high-risk and underserved populations, including racial and ethnic minorities and rural residents.
This year’s awardees span across the state and a variety of industries, ranging from nonprofits, community development organizations, tribal groups, and farms. This year’s awardees, listed alphabetically, include:
Catawba Tribal Nation
Eden Community Garden
First Impression SC
Kidogo Farms
Sustaining Way
Tommy Dodd
The objective of this year’s grant program was to make available six (6) single grant awards in the amount of $10,000 each for the establishment and expansion of hoop houses in low-income, rural communities. The Hoop House grants offer training paired with funding to support minority and veteran producers in furthering the production of fruits and vegetables as an important source of fresh food and nutrition to communities lacking access to locally grown produce.
“SCACED is proud to collaborate with these community advocates for sustainable locally grown produce,” said SCACED program associate Ken Harvin. “We look forward to seeing the positive impact these community gardens will have on their communities.”
About SCACED (www.scaced.org)
SCACED is a coalition of over 200 individuals and organizations who support the development of healthy and economically sustainable communities throughout South Carolina. For over 25 years, SCACED and its members have worked collaboratively to build wealth and create economic opportunity for all SC residents including a focus on minority communities and other groups who have been left out of the economic mainstream.
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