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Council trims community gardening grants as Office of Food System Resilience warns federal cutbacks have reduced local food supplies
Summary
The Montgomery County Council’s HHS committee approved moving $100,000 out of the community gardening grant program for FY26 while the Office of Food System Resilience told the council that federal and logistical changes have reduced commodity supplies and increased costs for local food assistance providers.
The Montgomery County Council on May 8 approved a $100,000 reduction to the community gardening grant program in the FY26 operating budget while the county’s Office of Food System Resilience reported worsening supply and program conditions that county officials said will heighten local needs.
Council staff said the community gardening grant program — first funded in FY24 as part of a strategy to reduce childhood hunger — was paused in FY25 to better align grant cycles with growing seasons. The FY26 program budget is listed at $200,000 and was expected to help five to 10 organizations; the HHS committee voted to reduce that line by $100,000 based on affordability guidance and because the program is starting a new grant cycle.
“Through our FY24 gardening grant programs, there were 1,800 residents that were…
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