USDA Grant Will Help Build SpringForward Farms
PHILLIPS Programs has been awarded $250,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support SpringForward’s innovative workforce development initiative built around urban hydroponic farming in Baltimore City, Maryland.
The Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production grant will be used for construction of a high-tech greenhouse like the one shown above at SpringForward Farms, a self-sustaining, pesticide-free hydroponic growing facility that will provide meaningful work with fair pay, a voice in business decisions and an eventual ownership stake for employees.
“We are proud to have the Agriculture Department’s support as we begin building companies differently to keep young adults with emotional and behavioral health needs from falling into chronic unemployment or underemployment,” said Piper Phillips Caswell, President and CEO of PHILLIPS, which founded SpringForward® in the past year. “SpringForward Farms is our response to the urgent need for high-quality jobs and fresh, hydroponically grown produce for people in Baltimore.”
The workers will be at the heart of the operation. Our human-centered EVERY Employee™ workplace design includes tailored supports such as on-site mental health counseling, financial planning services and flexible scheduling. By providing the services needed for each individual to be successful, the entire team benefits.
SpringForward Farms will have a four-bay greenhouse to grow 75,000 pounds of leafy greens, 145,000 live herb plants and 16,200 trays of microgreens annually. The produce will be sold to local stores, including those in Healthy Food Priority Areas, where it can be difficult to find fresh, nutritious food.
We are already running a small indoor hydroponic farm in South Baltimore in partnership with City of Refuge and Grow Home, where we are growing microgreens and leafy greens. We have distributed produce to several corner markets in the city through a partnership with Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. This project will expand later this year to reach more stores.
We will share what we learn as we build our social enterprises so others can replicate our success in helping young adults with behavioral health needs overcome barriers to employment.
