Growing Augusta: Arts, Agriculture, & Agency

SAE For All - Supervised Agricultural Experience Guide

Kelly Loeffler Appointed SBA Administrator

Senator Jon Ossoff's press release  announces that the Trump Administration has reinstated funding for HBCU students studying agriculture following his intervention.  Ossoff emphasizes  that the funding should not have been paused initially and pledges continued oversight.  The release provides  contact information for Ossoff's offices in various Georgia cities and Washington, D.C. 

TOPIC: various agricultural development grants offered by the USDA and other organizations. It explains the grant application process, highlighting the importance of a strong proposal and alignment with agency goals. The article further showcases successful grant-funded projects and provides tips for maximizing impact, emphasizing collaboration, evaluation, and communication. Finally, it stresses...

This document outlines the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) in Georgia, administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a division of the USDA. CSP is a voluntary program that provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers to enhance existing conservation efforts and achieve higher levels of stewardship on their working lands. The program emphasizes...

Black caddies  at Augusta National for decades played a crucial but often unacknowledged role in the success of prominent golfers. An effort began in 2019 to honor these men with a  statue , but the vision evolved into a  painted golf tee sculpture . Despite the artwork's completion, its  unveiling has been repeatedly delayed  and it remains covered, reportedly due to political and control iss...

The Awesome Foundation is a global, decentralized network of local chapters that provide micro-grants ($1000 or local equivalent) to individuals and groups working on "awesome" projects. The foundation operates on a unique model where each chapter is autonomous, funded by local "trustees," and interprets "awesome" in its own context. The grants are provided with no st...

The Trump administration has initiated a sweeping pause on federal grants and loans, effective Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET. This action is part of an ideological review of government spending, with the stated goal of eliminating funding for programs that advance what the administration considers "Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies.” This move is generating sign...

The USDA has made updates to the CCC-770 ECP Checklists, which are forms used to track and review applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP). These changes aim to reduce errors and ensure funds are used correctly, following a government audit that found too many mistakes in the program.

The Cornell Small Farms Program offers a diverse catalog of online courses focused on various aspects of small-scale farming.  Courses cover topics  such as market analysis, financial planning, livestock management, and crop production.  Many courses are offered in both English and Spanish.  The program includes both live and self-paced courses, with varying costs, and some are offered for free. ...

Growing Augusta proposes three grant applications focused on improving food access and community engagement in urban areas. The first aims to transform community gardens into artistic hubs promoting urban agriculture and cultural expression. The second seeks to expand a mobile farmers market, enhancing its infrastructure and educational outreach. The third details a foodscaping initiative to mitig...

This Farmers.gov article features a Q&A with Brianna Henry, the acting Modeling Team Lead for the USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). Henry discusses the CEAP’s new regional reports, which analyze cropland conservation trends across the U.S. using farmer survey data and modeling. The reports reveal regional variations in conservation practice adoption and associated environm...

Dreaming of starting a farm but have zero experience (or even a green thumb)? This lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek guide is here to help you take the first steps toward growing your dream. Packed with practical tips, relatable humor, and plenty of grace for beginners, this ebook will keep you inspired, even when your garden doesn’t look like the picture-perfect farms on social media. Get the guide:...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced improvements to its crop insurance programs, particularly for nursery growers. The existing Nursery Field Grown and Container (FG&C) program is being discontinued due to contractor issues, replaced by the enhanced Nursery Value Select (NVS) program. NVS offers simplified reporting and increased coverage options, includ...

The USDA's Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) supports the growth of the domestic organic market through programs like the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP provides resources and mentorship to farmers transitioning to organic production. Another OTI program, Organic Market Development Grants (OMDG), funds projects expanding organic markets. TOPP also facilitates buyer-seller...

The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program, running through 2025, reimburses specialty crop operations for food safety certification costs. Eligible expenses include developing and maintaining food safety plans, certifications, testing, and training, with varying reimbursement rates up to 75% or 100%. Small to medium-sized businesses in the US and its territories can apply v...

This USDA Farm Service Agency notice (ECP-94) outlines  FY 2025 payment scenarios for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (ECP) . It details  new, streamlined procedures  for determining cost-share payments, emphasizing consistency and reduced workload. The notice provides  instructions for accessing updated payment scenario descriptions via a SharePoint site and Access database , and it...

A new mural , "Golden Blocks: A Community Built on the Shoulders of Giants," by artist Theron Cartwright, is being unveiled in Augusta, Georgia on January 24, 2025.  This project , funded by the Porter Fleming Foundation and spearheaded by the Lucy Craft Laney Museum,  celebrates  Augusta's African American heritage and  highlights  the contributions of influential local figures.  Th...

Topic: the 2025 grant application process for the Vinea Foundation, a donor-advised fund operating through the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area.  The foundation prioritizes funding for non-profits serving special needs populations, underserved youth, and those working to end generational poverty.   Applications are accepted twice yearly, with notification sent within two we...

Topic: The first source is the text of the "Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act," a bill proposing a $500 million federal grant program to help farmers affected by PFAS contamination. The bill defines PFAS, eligible recipients, and allowable uses of the funds, which include remediation, health monitoring, and economic assistance. The second source is an op-ed discussing the impact of PFAS contami...

TOPIC: Augusta, Georgia's Mayor Pro Tem, Brandon Garrett, is taking an indefinite leave of absence due to family, mental, and spiritual health issues, leaving the commission short-handed and impacting its ability to function effectively. A second article, an editorial, criticizes Garrett's leave, arguing that his absence is unacceptable given the current needs of the city and suggesting he should...

The South Arts Jazz Road Tours program offers grants of $5,000–$15,000 to jazz artists for three-to-six-site tours across the U.S., prioritizing underserved communities and fostering career development. Funding is available for eligible expenses including performance fees, travel, and up to $2,500 for non-musician personnel (including childcare). Applications are accepted through recurring cycles...

This YouTube transcript  documents an Augusta, Georgia commission meeting.  A significant portion  focuses on securing state funding for a veteran's cemetery, with discussion of lobbying efforts and a planned trip to the state capitol.  Later,  the meeting addresses transportation needs within the CSRA and includes a debate over the approval of a liquor store and a recreational facility, concludin...

This YouTube transcript records an Augusta, Georgia commission meeting. The meeting covers various topics, including a proclamation honoring a basketball team, a resolution commemorating a deceased commissioner, a proposal for a planetarium and museum, a debate over the process of sending resolutions to the state legislature, an offer of support for Augusta Animal Services, a proposal for a tuitio...

TOPIC: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) for the USDA’s Agriculture Conservation Experienced Services (ACES) Program. The ACES program awards grants to non-profit organizations to hire individuals aged 55+ to provide technical services for various conservation programs. While no funding is currently available, the NFO outlines the application process via Grants.gov, with a deadline of January 13...