Saco Ecology School signs for USDA food grant

The Ecology School in Saco recently received a $343,000 federal grant to support the production and consumption of fresh food.

Last week, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Terry Cosby visited the Ecology School at River Bend Farm to learn about the school’s programming and what the grant, which was announced last month, will support.

Ecology School President and CEO Drew Dumsch signed a contract with Cosby to accept the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production grant awarded by the USDA.

The national UAIP grant will support innovative food production, food systems education, agricultural workforce training, and fresh food distribution while improving critical elements of the local food system for long-term resilience and meeting immediate fresh food needs in the community.

The Ecology School is one of 17 national grant recipients of the UAIP grants, totaling $5.2M. The Ecology School was selected from over 620 applicants, according to a school press release.

“Notably, this is the first UAIP project awarded in Maine,” said Brian Guse, director of the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.

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