Amid federal grant cuts, some South Florida farming programs left in limbo
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Local farmers are out tens of thousands of dollars after the Trump administration paused federal grants that had already been awarded.
Why it matters: Agriculture is vital to South Florida's economy, and the loss of federal funding for programs meant to offset high barriers to entry makes it harder to grow — or maintain — the industry.
- Local business owners have seen a growing interest in sustaining local agriculture and training a new generation of farmers, but a lack of land due to development and rising costs is often a deterrent.
Driving the news: One local business says a grant it was awarded in 2023 is caught in a federal review — while thousands of dollars of invoices to the government remain unpaid.
What happened: Authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Urban Oasis Project in Miami was among the businesses awarded a grant through the Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program.
- The project sources food from local suppliers and artisans for farmers markets and discounted food boxes.
- After a year of training, Art Friedrich, president of Urban Oasis Project, was given the OK in November to start accessing the $2.5 million grant money.
- Initial costs went toward hiring administrators and setting up the structure for the program. About 15% of the grant would have gone toward purchasing land, which would have then been leased to underserved farmers for training or support, Friedrich said.
- But by late January, reimbursements weren't being fulfilled and questions about the grant's future went unanswered.
What they're saying: "We are out tens of thousands of dollars, but the only response we get was 'We're awaiting guidance from leadership,'" Friedrich told Axios.
The big picture: The uncertainty follows the Trump administration's flurry of policy changes and executive orders that resulted in widespread federal employee layoffs and the cancellation of billions in grants for state and local programs.
- It also comes as the administration dismantles diversity, equity and inclusion programs that seek to benefit minorities.
The latest: Last week, Friedrich got word that the government would be reviewing the Land, Capital and Market Access Program to "see if it falls in the purview of what's allowed," he told Axios.
Between the lines: The program aims to help underserved producers. Friedrich believes the word underserved in the program's description could be seen as DEI, drawing scrutiny to the program.
Yes, but: He and others have "a lot of hope because we see this program as an economical development program. If it's categorized as such a program, it could proceed."
- A separate grant supporting farmers markets that had also been paused was recently cleared to move forward. That one, Friedrich said, was labeled as economic development and the unpaid invoices that had accrued after Jan. 19 were met.
The bottom line: Regardless of how the review plays out, the grant — and the program — will likely remain in limbo "for quite a while," he said.
- Even if the program as a whole is approved, individual contracts could later be canceled if they're deemed DEI.