Committees recommend restoring $100,000 to Montgomery County resident and community gardening grants

The Government Operations and Health & Human Services committees unanimously recommended that the County Council consider a $100,000 special appropriation to restore the resident and community gardening grant program to FY24 funding levels.

Clemens Johnson (packet presenter) said the program began under the county strategic plan to end childhood hunger and was funded at $200,000 in FY24 before reductions and a pause in FY25. She told the committee that, if funded, a $100,000 appropriation would likely restore the program to the prior $200,000 level and that grant awards would likely begin in May or June after a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Director Ruskin (Office of Food Systems Resilience) described the program as meaningful for climate priorities and community food access. Ruskin cited a Department of Environmental Protection survey that found many community gardeners relied on garden products to feed their families and said the county will seek projects that balance education and meaningful food production.

Committee members asked how funds would be allocated; Ruskin and staff said the NOFO will be competitive and open to community-led projects across Montgomery County, and that evaluation will consider long-term sustainability and ability to leverage public and private resources. By voice/hand raise, the joint committees present recommended forwarding the $100,000 appropriation to the full County Council.