FHC’s latest three-year initiative, supported by funding from the IAAQLI Health & Wellness Grant, is focused on transforming key stages of the food system—agricultural production, retail access, and household consumption—through sustainable, community-led strategies.
This project was created in response to high poverty and food insecurity rates in the 46201, 46202, 46205, and 46218 zip codes, where over 47,000 residents—predominantly African-American—face systemic barriers to healthy food access and economic opportunity.
FHC’s role in this collaboration emphasizes job training and entrepreneurial education in small-scale agriculture, urban farming, and agri-tech. Local youth and community members gain hands-on experience in sustainable food production, vertical farming, and agribusiness through programs like “Brother Nature” and Grow Getters.
Looking forward, the initiative will:
- Deliver nutrition education and culturally relevant cooking demonstrations through MCPHD, led by an African-American registered dietitian.
- Expand retail access with GPI’s mobile markets, farmers markets, and CSA boxes to reduce food deserts and triple the impact of SNAP dollars.
- Offer urban agriculture technical training to 50+ residents, including indoor farming, hydroponics, and sustainable techniques.
- Partner with Purdue and Purdue Extension to conduct ongoing agronomic research and track productivity improvements.
- Engage youth in entrepreneurial and leadership roles to drive long-term community transformation.
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