Local Food System Planning Implementation Grant

Local Food System Planning Implementation Grant is sponsored by Food Well Alliance and Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). This grant supports cities within the Food Well Alliance's five-county service area to implement strategic plans that increase opportunities to access and grow local food. The program involves community engagement to gather resident input and develop a strategic plan.

Local Food System Planning — Food Well Alliance What Is Local Food System Planning? A Local Food System Plan is a set of policy and program recommendations for a city to strengthen their local food system over the next 3-5 years.

Food Well supports each plan with a $100,000 implementation grant package including $75,000 in cash and up to $25,000 in other in-kind resources such as compost deliveries, labor assistance at growing spaces, workshops, and volunteer events. Implementation funding will be distributed with the guidance of a Local Food and Agriculture Committee in each city. Why Local Food System Planning?

Since 2018, Food Well has been working in partnership with the ARC to introduce Local Food System Plans to cities across our five-county service area. Our vision is to bring local governments together with growers and their communities to ensure that cities incorporate local food and agriculture into their plans for development.

We have helped create and implement plans in five cities and are in the process of developing the first joint Local Food System Plan with the cities of Chattahoochee Hills and Palmetto. Want to explore these focus areas more? See examples of how cities in our region with Local Food System Plans have implemented related strategies.

Our Local Food System Planning Cities After a thorough exploration process in 2019, the City of East Point was selected to pilot the City Agriculture Plan. In 2021, East Point City Council adopted the region’s first City Agriculture Plan . East Point approved the formation of a city-level Local Food Ecosystem Commission to guide the plan’s implementation and advise the Mayor and Council on matters related to local food and agriculture.

The plan was funded by a $250,000 USDA Regional Food System Partnership grant. The City of Alpharetta adopted the region's second City Agriculture Plan in 2022. Since then, the city has opened two new seed libraries at Fulton County Library branches and established new school partnerships to teach agricultural knowledge to youth.

In June 2024, Alpharetta piloted its first community composting program and continues to execute implementation projects using a $75,000 grant from Food Well, matched by additional city funds. The City of Jonesboro was the third city to develop a City Agriculture Plan, the region’s first in Clayton County. Following an extensive community engagement phase and plan development, Jonesboro’s City Agriculture Plan was adopted in 2023 .

Implementation began in 2024, in partnership with two local organizations, focusing on improving community garden infrastructure, enhancing food access, and providing educational opportunities. In 2023, the City of Austell was selected to develop Cobb County's first City Agriculture Plan.

Austell's strong vision for holistic community improvement and commitment to reducing health disparities through inclusive food policies and programs were key factors in their selection.

In 2024, Austell’s Mayor and City Council voted to formally approve Austell’s City Agriculture Plan and have prioritized the implementation of several upcoming projects The City of Clarkston was selected as metro Atlanta’s fifth city to develop a Local Food System Plan. Clarkston has numerous active organizations focused on food and agriculture issues that can bring their strengths and experience to drive the planning process.

In 2025, the Clarkston Mayor and Council unanimously voted to approve Clarkston’s City Agriculture Plan . Now the city can begin the implementation phase. Cities of Chattahoochee Hills & Palmetto In 2026, the cities of Chattahoochee Hills and Palmetto were jointly selected to develop the sixth Local Food System Plan.

Through the Community Engagement Phase, six themes were identified. The planning process kicked off in May 2026! Community members will have an opportunity to react to priorities and recommendations in the fall.

Stay tuned to learn more about the upcoming plan development and how to stay involved. If you have questions about the application process, please contact Sr. Policy & Planning Manager, Sarah Brown at sarah@foodwellalliance. org .

Local Food System Planning In The News Two Metro Atlanta cities receive $100k food system grant - SaportaReport Food Well Alliance and the Atlanta Regional Commission announced Chattahoochee Hills and Palmetto as the awardees for the 2026 Local Food System Plan, with a $100,000 grant for each city.

Metro ATL farms get boost to expand local food access - 11Alive Food Well Alliance awards $100K to Chattahoochee Hills and Palmetto to expand local food access. Sarah Brown explains how communities will shape plans.

Clarkston creates food system plan with Food Well Alliance - Decaturish The Food Well Alliance and the city of Clarkston worked together to create a local food system plan to provide greater access to healthy food options and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Chattahoochee Hills, Palmetto to develop joint food plan - Fulton Neighbor Two south metro communities will work together over the next year to develop a plan aimed at strengthening local food production and access.

Food Well Alliance expands support for local growers to help build healthier communities - WABE Food Well Alliance is an Atlanta-based nonprofit with a straightforward mission: to provide resources and support to local growers while helping build healthier, more connected communities. Learn about new updates with Local Food System Planning on WABE’s Closer Look.

Clarkston becomes first DeKalb participant in City Agricultural Plan - The Champion City of Clarkston became the first DeKalb County municipality to begin developing a City Agriculture Plan with Food Well Alliance, according to a Feb. 20 news release.

New partnership in Clarkston helps city become more agriculturally minded - ANF Most aren’t usually talking about flourishing gardens in February but the story of one metro Atlanta garden is flourishing year-round — made up of the journeys of refugees who have come to Clarkston from all over the world.

Holiday compost can help metro Atlanta farmers - Fox 5 This time of year is typically filled with plenty of family gatherings and a lot of cooking. That can also mean a lot of food waste. Those scraps can also help local farmers put more food on your table.

Good Day's Lindsay Tuman got an inside look at the partnership helping turn your trash into a nourishing treasure. Fresh produce and unity: Austell's agriculture plan takes root - 11Alive Austell is sowing the seeds for a sustainable future, thanks to a $75,000 grant from the Food Well Alliance, to develop a comprehensive City Agriculture Plan.

The initiative aims to bolster access to fresh, local food while fostering community engagement and education. City Agriculture Plan & Community Garden - Neighborhood TV Neighborhood TV speaks with community members at the City of Austell’s Community Garden as well as Exec. Dir.

of Food Well Alliance, Kate Conner. Food Well Alliance and the Atlanta Regional Commission are teaming up with the City of Austell to begin the engagement phase of the Austell’s City Agriculture Plan.

City of Austell Chosen for City Agriculture Plan - Neighborhood TV Atlanta In collaboration with the Atlanta Regional Commission , Food Well Alliance is pleased to announce that the City of Austell has been chosen for the 2024 City Agriculture Plan. The City of Austell was chosen because of their commitment to health equity, economic growth, and alleviating food insecurity. We eagerly anticipate the collaboration ahead.

Austell to Receive $75,000 to Grow Local Food Access After successfully launching City Agriculture Plans in East Point, Alpharetta, and Jonesboro, Atlanta nonprofit Food Well Alliance and the Atlanta Regional Commission have selected the City of Austell as the fourth metro city to develop a City Agriculture Plan.

Austell To Receive $75,000 To Grow Local Food Access - Cobb County Courier After successfully launching City Agriculture Plans in East Point, Alpharetta, and Jonesboro, Atlanta nonprofit Food Well Alliance and the Atlanta Regional Commission have selected the City of Austell as the fourth metro city to develop a City Agriculture Plan.

East Point to launch community compost program - AJC The city of East Point, in partnership with CompostNow and nonprofit Food Well Alliance, is launching a free, first-of-its-kind food waste drop-off program for residents. East Point opens free city-wide compost program - SaportaReport Next week, the City of East Point will kick off its city-wide community compost program, the first in the metro area.

The city is partnering with CompostNow and Food Well Alliance to offer this free drop-off program for residents. East Point compost pilot program supporting minority farmers - ANF A composting pilot program in one community is giving back to local farmers and in turn you at home.

Community Garden kicks off in Jonesboro - Clayton News Daily The city of Jonesboro’s Community Garden & City Agriculture Plan Kickoff Event was held Saturday, April 15 at 223 N. Main St.

Jonesboro taking part in ARC, Food Well Alliance ‘City Agriculture Plan" - AJC The city of Jonesboro will celebrate its inclusion in the Atlanta Regional Commission’s and Food Well Alliance’s “City Agriculture Plan” with a morning of garden prep Saturday.

Jonesboro to Receive $75,000 to Grow Local Food Access After successfully launching City Agriculture Plans in East Point and Alpharetta, Atlanta nonprofit Food Well Alliance and the Atlanta Regional Commission have selected the City of Jonesboro as the third metro city to develop a City Agriculture Plan.

New program helps East Point families donate food waste to grow healthy vegetables - Fox 5 One metro Atlanta city is giving families a way to help grow healthier food in their community without getting their hands dirty themselves. The City of East Point is starting a two-year-long pilot program that will let residents compost their food waste and turn it into soil for local farmers.

Alpharetta becomes 2nd metro city to develop agriculture plan - AJC Alpharetta Council Members voted recently to officially adopt a City Agriculture Plan. Food Well Alliance and the Atlanta Regional Commission selected Alpharetta as the second metro city to develop such a plan and helped guide the city through the process. Food Well Alliance will provide $75,000 in funding.

The city will match those funds to help bring the plan to life. Alpharetta adopts agriculture development plan - Alpharetta-Roswell Herald After nearly a year of community meetings and planning, the Alpharetta City Council has approved a comprehensive plan to guide and encourage agricultural development in the city over the next five years.

Alpharetta Adopts City Agriculture Plan - The City of Alpharetta The City of Alpharetta officially adopted their City Agriculture Plan on Monday December 12th. The comprehensive Plan was formulated over the year, with input from hundreds of residents who attended a half dozen meetings to brainstorm ideas of what a healthy and vibrant local food system could look like and how to achieve that.

Alpharetta partners with Food Well Alliance to promote local agriculture - Appen Media While even some locals may find it hard to picture, the city of Alpharetta was once a small agrarian community. Though its population has grown more than twentyfold over the past four decades, the city is now seeking to return to its locally-grown roots by promoting fresh, sustainable community agriculture.

Reporter’s Notebook: Alpharetta selected to create City Agriculture Plan - Saporta Report With the help of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and Food Well Alliance, the City of Alpharetta will craft a City Agriculture Plan. The ARC will help develop a plan to create sustainable food systems in Alpharetta, and the Food Well Alliance will help implement the plan — pledging $75,000 in funding to help bring it to fruition.

Grant seeds Alpharetta plan for growing sustainable foods - AJC Alpharetta is creating an agricultural master plan for growing healthy sustainable foods that could eventually be woven into city development. The plan has $150,000 in initial funding and will be approached similar to a master plan for economic development or recreation and parks, Amanda Musilli, Alpharetta community services manager said.

Alpharetta getting $75k grant for 'urban farming'- WSB-TV With the help of Food Well Alliance and the Atlanta Regional Commission, the City of Alpharetta will develop the next City Agriculture Plan. The plan will help create sustainable food systems in Alpharetta and in early spring, the city will seek input from residents during the community engagement phase.

Local group trying to find the next big city to make urban farming a reality - WSB-TV Food Well Alliance is searching for a second city to become part of the City Agriculture Planning initiative in partnership with the ARC.

East Point Agriculture Plan prioritizes access to healthy foods and urban farming - South Metro Neighbor East Point’s first Agriculture Plan focuses on urban farming and prioritizing equitable access to healthy foods. East Point approves city agriculture plan - CBS46 The City of East Point has become the first in the Atlanta area to adopt a city agriculture plan following a unanimous vote at their April 19 meeting.

The creation of Food Well Alliance was made possible through funding from the founding benefactor, the James M. Cox Foundation, and through the vision of Jim Kennedy, Chairman Emeritus of Cox Enterprises and Chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation , and Bill Bolling, founder of the Atlanta Community Food Bank .

Together, they saw an opportunity to build healthier communities across metro Atlanta by supporting and connecting members of our local food movement. Today, we support more than 300 community gardens, urban farms, and orchards in the Atlanta region. Food Well Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

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