MD Rahman

Senator Rahman Applauds Connecticut Grown for Kids Grants for Manchester Farm Programs

Today, Senator MD Rahman, D-Manchester, welcomed news that the state Department of Agriculture had awarded a total of more than $60,000 in Connecticut Grown for Kids grants to support two Manchester programs already teaching kids about the importance of nutritious diets and the value of locally grown food.

Under grants awarded last week:

• The Community Child Guidance Clinic will receive $38,114 to expand its Grow Ahead Gardening and Whole Child Wellness Programs, which provide kids with therapeutic and educational activities while teaching a curriculum that emphasizes proper nutrition.
• The Manchester Early Childhood Collaborative will also receive $22,194 to broaden an existing program to feed 180 preschool kids with fresh produce from local farmers’ markets and lead educational field trips to learn about topics like farmers, beekeepers and where food is grown.

“It is essential that Manchester children have access to healthy, nutritious diets and learn about the role that local farms play in feeding our communities,” Senator Rahman said. “I am glad our state will continue to support these therapeutic and educational projects.”

The Connecticut Grown for Kids Grant program awards grants of up to $50,000 for projects that support farm-to-school initiatives. The program seeks to improve student health by including locally grown food in dietary programs and reinforce relationships between local farms and educators who wish to provide hands-on instructional tools.

This year’s grants represent the third round of funding under the program, which has been supported by funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Last year, state legislators allocated another $1 million in the state budget to continue the program as well as another $2 million in ARPA funding for shipping container gardens to grow fresh produce for schools and food pantries.

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