The City of Alpharetta has made it official! With a unanimous vote, Alpharetta's Mayor and City Council adopted a new City Agriculture Plan!
Keep up with their journey by visiting their Community Agriculture Program or signing up for our newsletter.
Alpharetta Adopts City Agriculture Plan!
On Monday, December 12, Alpharetta's Mayor and City Council unanimously voted to adopt the Alpharetta City Agriculture Plan. This vote represents the culmination of a year-long planning process and formalizes the city's commitment to implementing the Plan's recommendations to strengthen the local food system.
In January 2022, Food Well Alliance and the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) selected Alpharetta to develop the metro Atlanta region's second City Agriculture Plan. Throughout the spring, Food Well solicited resident input through surveys, community events, and focus groups to prioritize community perspectives within the Plan. "Residents made it clear over the past year that they are passionate about growing, sharing, and supporting local food," said Sarah Brown, Policy and Planning Manager at Food Well Alliance. "This Plan will integrate those priorities into Alpharetta’s existing policies, programs, and future development." ARC then led a diverse Steering Committee through a 6-month planning process and developed the final City Agriculture Plan which you can read below.
Food Well has awarded a $75,000 implementation grant which is being matched by the City of Alpharetta. This funding will allow the city to hit the ground running in 2023 and start implementing city policies and community programming recommended within the plan.
Community Engagement Phase Feedback Analysis
Thank you to everyone who participated in Alpharetta’s Community Engagement phase. Through this process, our main objectives were to create accessible opportunities for diverse community residents to voice their opinions about Alpharetta’s local food system, summarize existing community food assets, and highlight opportunities for growth and connection. This report will be used during the Steering Committee's planning process, to present to the Mayor and City Council as a Phase 1 summary, and as a tool for Alpharetta's Community Agriculture program.
Take Part in Alpharetta’s Community Conversations!
Atlanta Regional Commission will lead a formal planning process to develop the Alpharetta City Agriculture Plan with the guidance of a Steering Committee made up of city officials and community leaders. Their work will be guided in part by feedback from Alpharetta community members to ensure the plan's recommendations are rooted in the stated priorities and needs of residents.
We are looking to you to help us understand what issues and opportunities need to be addressed in this plan! How does a strong local food system fit into your vision for how Alpharetta is growing? Topics might include expanding access to local food, strengthening farm-to-school programs, amending city zoning ordinances to better support local growing opportunities, supporting soil health and pollinators, and any other related issue areas.
These conversations will be facilitated by Alpharetta local food leaders.
It’s Official! Alpharetta Will Develop the Second City Agriculture Plan
After successfully launching metro Atlanta’s first City Agriculture Plan in East Point, Food Well Alliance is happy to announce it has selected the City of Alpharetta to develop the next City Agriculture Plan!
“The opportunity to develop a comprehensive plan for agriculture is really forward-thinking and will help ensure that Alpharetta is the community we want to leave for our grandchildren. We look forward to working with the community to develop a comprehensive plan that prioritizes agriculture and helps the program grow across the city,” said Jim Gilvin, City of Alpharetta Mayor.
Supporting and growing Alpharetta’s community food system will involve strengthening the relationships between local food producers, distributors, and consumers. Building these connections can help the city support local ecosystems and soil health, increase access to healthy food and create entrepreneurial opportunities to bolster the economy.
What’s Next?
The Mayor and Council adopted the Memorandum of Understanding and approved the planning process on January 18, 2022. The first phase of the City Agriculture Plan will begin in spring 2022. This equitable, inclusive community engagement phase will include events and focus groups designed to reach as many residents as possible, as well as identify ways locally grown food can be integrated into the city’s existing plans and programs. The engagement phase also helps appoint a balanced and diverse Steering Committee to guide Alpharetta through the planning phase.
Once Alpharetta’s plan is developed with Atlanta Regional Commission, Food Well Alliance will steer its implementation and provide $75,000 in funding to help bring the plan to life.
Are you an Alpharetta resident interested in participating in phase one of the City Agriculture Plan? Sign up to receive regular updates on how you can get involved.
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.