Groundwork Lawrence is receiving state help from the Urban Agriculture Program to pay for gardening supplies.
The nonprofit was awarded nearly $13,000 for soil and tools from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. The state provided $600,000 through its Urban Agriculture and Food Ventures programs to 16 organizations. Grants support greater food access to residents in underserved Massachusetts communities by expanding urban farms, community gardens and food business operations in the state.
The Trustees of Reservations was also awarded $20,000 for irrigation systems and soil.
Commissioner Ashley Randle said “More local food production in our urban neighborhoods will ensure that residents have greater access to fresh produce, improving their well-being. Providing resources to help food enterprises grow enhances their ability to feed their communities.”
The Urban Agriculture Program supports initiatives in cities of all sizes in Massachusetts. Grants pay for projects to urban farms and community gardens to increase their capacity for food production, allowing them to provide more fresh, healthy, local food to low- to-moderate income communities.