The Graham County Interfaith Care Alliance (GCICA) serves over 15,000 community members annually through its farm and food pantry operation, Our Neighbor’s Farm & Pantry (ONF&P). At present, the farm yields over 300 lbs of produce every year that is distributed through the pantry and serves as a teaching site for local schoolchildren. In this program ONF&P will evaluate and develop opportunities for revenue generation to support the farm and food pantry on a 2-acre donated parcel of agricultural land. With consultant partners at Apex Applied Technology and the services of designers, ONF&P will (i) complete a feasibility study (FS) supported by community outreach, (ii) create a plan to develop the property based on the FS, and (iii) promote regional agricultural economic development through workshops/training events. Overall, the program will support Graham County’s local food and farming economy for benefits to human and community resiliency for low-income populations.
