The Gary Common Council voted 9-0 on June 3 to accept a two-year $317,000 grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to demonstrate household food-waste composting and to establish a budget in the city’s Green Urbanism Fund.

Brenda Scott Henry, director of the Office of Sustainability and Environmental Affairs, told the council the program will train households in home composting and distribute compost bins to 100 households. The city will partner with the Gary Foods Council and Hilltop Farmers Co-op on outreach and uses for the compost produced.

Why it matters: Council documents show the grant aims to reduce food waste in landfills and increase local soil-building resources for community gardens and urban agriculture efforts. Henry said the grant funds will support a training program and efforts to find “end uses” for produced compost, including work with local partners.

Council action: The ordinance (CPO 2025-31) was amended by substitution and passed by roll call vote, 9-0. The council’s vote record on the amendment showed unanimous support and the final adoption carried the same tally.

Next steps: Staff will implement the training program, distribute compost bins to participating households, and coordinate with partners to use compost in community projects. Council members asked no substantive follow-up questions during the final vote.