Legislature shifts ARPA youth agriculture project supervision to Growing Hope Cayuga

The committee approved HH10 to repeal an earlier agreement and authorize the Cayuga County chair and Youth Bureau director to enter a supervising agreement with Growing Hope Cayuga Inc. for ARPA‑funded youth demonstration projects. The move shifts project supervision from Southern Cayuga Future Farmers of America to Growing Hope Cayuga while keeping the original scope and ARPA spending requirements.

A Growing Hope representative said the original scope will remain and that Southern Cayuga FFA participants will remain involved where available. Growing Hope plans outreach including an open house at the Equal Rights Heritage Center and networking with other youth organizations to broaden participation and support smaller community agriculture projects.

Committee members praised the program’s educational and hunger‑relief elements: organizers plan to grow food as part of youth learning and donate produce to local food banks. Growing Hope will also use part of the ARPA funding to seed smaller projects led by other local organizations.

What happens next: The agreement will be executed and Growing Hope will proceed with the outreach and project activities; staff said ARPA funds must be spent by December 2026.