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The GrowHaus Receives USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Amid National Food Insecurity Crisis

Colorado's Sole USDA Awardee Launches Pilot Fellowship Program for Community-Led Food Market Solutions

Denver, Colorado, October 25, 2024 — The GrowHaus, a Latina-led, community-driven nonprofit focused on cultivating food justice and advancing healthy, equitable food access in Denver, has been awarded the USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant for its project, Community Market: A Blueprint for Leadership and Sustainable Food Access. This pilot program focuses on training The GrowHaus' team members—primarily residents of the neighborhoods they serve—through a Community Food Access Fellowship program to equip them with the skills needed to manage and sustain community-led food markets. The program also establishes a Community Advisory Council, which includes local residents and stakeholders to actively shape and guide the initiative.

“The USDA award is a powerful acknowledgment of the capacity of communities to redefine how food systems should serve people," said Giselle Diaz Campagna, Executive Director of The GrowHaus. "Our small team is a tenacious collective of community champions, working alongside our neighbors to design culturally informed, innovative solutions that genuinely address local needs and goals. The food market pilot and fellowship programs provide our team members with the skills needed to manage and sustain locally-run food markets, ensuring leadership and decision-making power remain in the hands of the community. This initiative creates lasting career opportunities while sustaining local leadership within Denver's food system.”

This USDA award arrives at a crucial time when over 18 million American households are grappling with food insecurity, according to a recent USDA report. With rising food prices currently at the forefront of national discussions, The GrowHaus is confronting these challenges head-on with locally-led initiatives that build local capacity and create wealth and leadership opportunities for community members.

Over 400 households from the Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea communities—some of Denver's oldest food insecure neighborhoods—are invited to participate in a 'client choice' market that serves as a live training program for The GrowHaus team. This market is specifically designed as a hands-on training opportunity for The GrowHaus team members rather than being open to the general public. It ensures that households already participating in The GrowHaus' food access programs can directly engage with the experience. The program also features culturally responsive food choices, a kid-friendly corner, multilingual wellness information, and recipe-sharing opportunities to make the experience inclusive and supportive for all participating neighbors. The pilot also includes SNAP outreach initiatives and offers fresh food at reduced costs to make healthy eating more accessible.

The USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant, a multiyear award sponsored by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), represents a vital federal commitment to bolstering local food security through innovative, community-based partnerships. As the only recipient in Colorado, this award underscores the transformative impact of The GrowHaus' work in advancing food sovereignty, fostering community leadership, and building a more equitable food system.

To read the USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant announcement, visit https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2024/10/18/usda-invests-46m-efforts-address-food-and-nutrition-security

About The GrowHaus: The GrowHaus is a community-driven nonprofit based in Denver, Colorado, focused on cultivating food justice through fresh food access, wellness education, and leadership development in neighborhoods facing systemic barriers. The GrowHaus, with a team composed primarily of residents from the communities they serve, supports culturally relevant and community-led food access and wellness initiatives, ensuring the community shapes a sustainable local food system. Through strategic partnerships, The GrowHaus reaches over 6,000 individuals with fresh food access via 26 access points throughout Denver. To learn more, visit www.thegrowhaus.org and follow us on Facebook or Instagram.