Office of Environment & Sustainability

Local food production and distribution plays an important role in addressing health, social, economic and environmental issues. Buy providing funding the Cincinnati Urban Agriculture Program Seeds of Change Mini-grants seek to support local agriculture efforts, such as community gardens, foraging sites and market garden businesses, as well as local food hubs, to increase local food production, distribution and access to fresh. healthy foods.

GRANT APPLICATIONS FY2026

In fiscal year 2026 funds are available for agricultural production and growing sites as well as local food aggregation distribution sites. To qualify for funding, the location of the growing or distribution sites must be within the City of Cincinnati. Applicants can be non-profit or for-profit corporations and other entities may be considered. Grants are not made to individuals.

Applications are due Monday, November 24, 2025 by 11:59 p.m.

Click links to the Program Criteria and Funding Guidelines and the online Application Form.

For the 2026 Seeds of Change Urban Agriculture grant cycle we are recommending that requests do not exceed $1000.

Priority will be given to neighborhoods that have participated in the Climate Safe Neighborhoods Program (CSNP), but everyone is encouraged to apply. The CSNP neighborhoods include Avondale, Bond Hill, Camp Washington, Carthage, English Woods, Lower Price Hill, Millvale, North Fairmont, OTR, Roselawn, South Cumminsville, South Fairmont, West End and Winton Hills

Priority will also be given to projects that include healthy soil measures and the installation of composting infrastructure. OES is happy to assist you with composting infrastructure questions

Funds may be used for eligible expenses dating from December 29, 2025 through May 15, 2026.

Items that are eligible for funding at AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION/GROWING (Garden or Farm) sites:

• • Site Improvement (e.g., soil testing, soil, compost, cover crops, etc.)
  • Growing needs (e.g., plants, seeds, tools, hoses, beds, beehives, etc.)
  • Infrastructure (e.g., composting, water access, fencing, season extenders, benches, walkways, etc.)

Items that are eligible for funding at LOCAL FOOD AGGREGATED DISTRIBUTION sites:

• Infrastructure/Equipment (e.g., racking/shelving, pallet jack, reusable crates, packing material, forklift, large dollies, etc.)
• Supplies (e.g., storage containers, liners, carts, tables, scales, bags, etc.)
• Marketing Materials (e.g., postcard mailers, local food stickers and magnets, truck decals, signage, social/print/radio ads, etc.)

TIMELINE FOR FY2026 Seeds of Change Urban Agriculture Grants

* Entities must be Registered Vendors with the City and have approval for purchases

THE RESULTS

In fiscal year 2025 the City received 48 urban agriculture applications. Forty two proposals received award funding, and 38 awardees completed their projects. Funding was provided by the City’s general fund and additional financial support from the Seeds of Change Fund Advisory Committee.

The following entities received urban agriculture resources and completed their projects in FY 2025. Congratulations to them and much appreciation for the work they do as part of Cincinnati's food system!

Bellarmine Chapel	BLOC Ministries	Bond Hill Community Council
Brick Gardens	Church of the Advent	Cincinnati Christian Adult Ministries Center
Cincinnati Permaculture Institute	Cincinnati Urban Promise	Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens
Clifton Recreation Center	College Hill Gardeners	Community Matters Lower Price Hill
CUF Neighborhood Association	Druffel Gardens	East End Community Garden
East End Area Council Gateway Garden	Engaged Bees	Green Umbrella/The Common Orchard Project
Groundwork Ohio River Valley	Happen, Inc.	Kennedy Heights Community Council
Mealz That Heal	Mt. Airy Community Urban      Revitalization Enterprise CURE	Mt. Auburn Garden Initiative Collaboration MAGIC
Ocotillo Herbals, LLC	Pleasant Street North Community Garden	Price Hill Community Garden
Price Hill Will	Rose Hill Farm	Sayler Park Village Council
Spring Grove Village Community Garden	The Flower Lady	Turner Farm Community Garden Program
Walnut Hills Area Council	Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation	Westwood Grows
Winton Terrace Residents     Community Garden	Working In Neighborhoods

For more information, please contact Robin Henderson at robin.henderson@cincinnati-oh.gov or at 513-352-5340.