City Celebrates Commencement of First Urban Farming and Entrepreneurship Training Program

Training Opportunities to Expand in 2021

April 07, 2021

On April 6, the City of Tallahassee celebrated the first commencement of the City Farm TLH Urban Farming and Entrepreneurship Training Program. Eleven participants recently completed an intensive 12-week program that included virtual classes and on-site learning opportunities at local farms, including the pilot site for City Farm TLH in Greater Bond.

With grant funding from the Knight Foundation, the City broke ground at City Farm TLH last fall and forged partnerships with TCC’s Wakulla Environmental Institute, FAMU’s Small Business Development Center, Compost Community and Toad Lily Farm to develop and implement the Urban Farming and Entrepreneurship Training Program.

“This is all about creative problem-solving,” Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox said. “City Farm TLH has allowed us to take an underutilized City-owned lot and turn it into a space to inspire economic activity.”

Apprenticeships are currently being arranged for the new program graduates to continue their hands-on training with local urban farming experts. City staff is also working to identify vacant City-owned lots that can be leased to program graduates and developed into urban farms to continue to grow our local food infrastructure.

“We are excited to see opportunities opening up for training program graduates as our community continues to improve food security and address blighted and vacant properties in our neighborhoods,” City Commissioner Curtis Richardson said.

Applications for the Fall 2021 Urban Farming and Entrepreneurship Training Program will open in May. City Farm TLH is one of several projects the City is working on collaboratively with residents of Greater Bond in support of the Greater Bond Neighborhood First Plan. You can find updates about City Farm TLH at Talgov.com/CityFarmTLH. To learn more about the Greater Bond Neighborhood First Plan, please call 850-891-8795 or email neighborhoods@talgov.com.

Photos from the commencement event can be seen at Talgov.com/Photos.