The City of Cleveland is promoting local and sustainable food through various programs and policies. It has over 200 community gardens, 12 farmers markets, 20 urban farms, and supports "chickens and bees" legislation allowing small-scale animal husbandry. The city also has a zoning district for urban gardens and allows agriculture and farm stands in residential areas. A 6-acre Urban Agriculture Innovation Zone provides land and training for new farmers. The city provides incentives like contracting preferences for local food purchases and "Gardening for Greenbacks" grants. The Green City Growers cooperative greenhouse will employ 42 residents to grow food for local institutions.

1. The City of Cleveland
Department of Economic Development
Growing
Opportunities: Small
Farms, Slow Food,
Co-ops, Farmers
Markets and
Sustainable Farming
January 28, 2013

2. Local Food
 Part of “Sustainable Cleveland 2019”
 Defined as “Production, process, distribution
and consumption within a 100 mile radius”
 Innovative policies and Programs
 Helps to address “Food deserts”
 Cleveland has more than 200 Community
Gardens, 12 Farmer’s markets, 20 Urban
Farms and Market Gardens and 25
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA’s)
Programs

3. Zoning
 “Chickens and Bees” Legislation
• Allows citizens to raise up to 6 chickens, small
animals and up to 2 beehives on small vacant
lots and backyard areas
• Requires bi-annual licensing by the Health
Department
Example:
Intercontinental
Hotel has a
beehive on the
roof for its
restaurant

4. Zoning
 Agriculture and Farm Stands in
Residential Districts
• Permits agriculture
as a principal use of
a vacant lot in a
residential district
• Allows sale of
produce from farm
stands in residential
districts with Neighborhood Farm Stand
approval from Board
of Zoning Appeals

5. Zoning
 Urban Garden Zoning District
• One of the nation’s first ordinances allowing
Cleveland to zone land exclusively for Urban
Garden use
• Previously Urban Gardens were considered
“Temporary Uses”, which discouraged
permanent investment in infrastructure
• Recognizes Urban Gardening as “Highest and
Best Use” for some areas

6. Urban Agriculture
Innovation Zone
 6 Acres of City Landbank Property
(planned 26 acre Urban Ag development)
 Partnering with the OSU Cooperative
Extension and Burten Bell Carr
Neighborhood CDC
 Worked with Ohio EPA to develop new
standards for agricultural use
 Cooperative Extension used grants to
fence area, bring in soil as needed and
provide a large community storage shed

7. Urban Agriculture
Innovation Zone
 Received first Federal Agriculture Grant
for an Urban area $740,000
 Received First State of Ohio Agriculture
Grant for an Urban Area $100,000
 Each farmer receives a lease for ¼ acre
site plus instruction
 City allows water use (from hydrants)
for 2 years- then must pay for a meter
and tie in

8. Urban Agriculture
Innovation Zone
 Landbank Lots in Purple
 Red Box is the Innovation
Zone- fully leased
 Land has been acquired
for Gateway signage and
landscaping along
Kinsman
 Funding obtained for a
demonstration kitchen-
Bridgeport Place

9. Urban Agriculture Zone
Plan for the 26 acre site

10. Urban Agriculture Zone
Rid-all Green Partnership
North
Section
of the
Urban
Ag
District
Aquaponics, Indoor
gardens, composting and
youth education

11. Urban Agriculture Zone
Greenhouse Training Program
 Next expansion
 Parcels are
being acquired
 $800,000 total
cost
 25 jobs to be
Will include a Food Prep
Kitchen, a Retail Store, Interior created
Urban Gardens, a 2nd
Aquaponics system and
 Hope to begin
training for careers in Urban construction in
Agriculture 2013

12. City Incentives-
Contracting
 Local Producer or Food Purchaser Incentive
• A 2% Bid Discount on City contracts for:
– Companies that buy at least 20 percent of
contract totals from regional growers
– Local producers which grow food in the
region
– Companies located anywhere which purchase
at least 20 percent of the amount of their
City contract from local producers
– Example: City Hall Cafeteria Contract

13. City Incentives-
Gardening for Greenbacks
 Up to $5,000 grants to
encourage urban agriculture
entrepreneurs
 Partner with Cooperative
Extension for “Market Garden
Training”
 Must show ability to sell to Farmer’s Markets,
CSA’s, Local Restaurants, etc.
 2012- CoBank, AgriBank and Farm Credit Mid-
America provided a 3 year grant to fund the
program $135,000

14. Green City Growers
Cooperative
 An Evergreen
Cooperative
 6 acre greenhouse
 Will grow lettuces
and basil
 42 new FTE
employees to be
created
 Employees will
become worker-
owners A majority of the employees
will be neighborhood residents
 Largest customers who were formerly
are local institutions incarcerated

15. Green City Growers
Cooperative
• $ 8,000,000 HUD 108
• $ 220,900 City Grant for Planning
• $ 400,000 Deferred Developer Fees
• $ 150,000 Predevelopment Grant
• $ 4,700,000 New Market Tax Credit Equity
• $ 2,000,000 HUD Brownfield Economic
Development Initiative Grant
•$ 200,000 EDA Working Capital
• $ 1,400,000 Evergreen Fund
• $17,070,900 Total Project

16. Cleveland Crops
 Collaboration between the OSU Cooperative
Extension Service and the Cuyahoga County
Board of Developmental Disabilities
 Currently 20 adults working on 6 gardens
 Constructing an Agricultural Education Center
with greenhouse, hoop houses, refrigerated
storage, a commercial kitchen for year round
farming and employment
 Goal is 100 adults working

17. City of Cleveland
Tracey Nichols
Director
Dept. of Economic Development
(216) 664-3611
tnichols2@city.cleveland.oh.us