What is a City Agriculture Plan?

A City Agriculture Plan is a roadmap for a city to support a vibrant and sustainable community food system over the next 5-10 years. The City Agriculture Plan process intentionally incorporates deep community engagement for residents and local food leaders to help identify ways that local food and agriculture can be integrated into their city’s existing plans and programs.

A local food system refers to the place-based relationships between consumers, producers, processors, distributors, and the environment. In contrast to conventional food systems, a local food system strengthens these connections and integrates them to enhance the environmental, economic, social, and nutritional health of a community and its residents.

Who are the partners involved in developing a City Agriculture Plan?

Food Well Alliance (FWA) is a collaborative network of local leaders working together to build equitable and thriving community gardens, urban farms, and orchards across metro Atlanta. FWA’s mission is to provide resources and support to local growers to connect and build healthier communities. Since 2015, the organization’s work with farmers and gardeners illuminated a need for cities to strengthen policies and initiatives that support the local food system. This led to the development of the City Agriculture Plan program in 2018. FWA leads the pre-planning community engagement phase and manages the partnerships involved in successfully developing a City Agriculture Plan. 

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency for the 11-county Atlanta region with decades of experience in bringing diverse stakeholders together to address the important issues facing metro Atlanta. ARC will lead a Steering Committee through the formal planning process and develop the final City Agriculture Plan.

How is a City Agriculture Plan developed?

The City Agriculture Plan is developed using a community-driven process that brings together growers, food system advocates, residents, and city officials to identify community priorities for the local food system.

Prior to planning, FWA will lead a community engagement process to ensure that community voices are heard and incorporated into the plan’s recommendations. The community engagement process will include community asset mapping to identify existing local food and agriculture assets along with focus groups and stakeholder surveys to collect feedback. 

Planning will be led by experts from ARC who will convene a Steering Committee including community and city leaders to create the plan. This process focuses on developing recommendations for specific local food and agricultural policies and programs that can be integrated into city plans and initiatives.

Once completed, the City Agriculture Plan will require approval by the city’s relevant entities which may include the Planning and Zoning Commission. It will then be presented to the City Council for approval and adoption.

Are there any grant awards associated with being selected to develop a City Agriculture Plan?

FWA will award a $75,000 implementation grant to the city once a finalized City Agriculture Plan is adopted. This grant is to fund implementation projects that stem from the recommendations of the plan. The recommendations and associated projects will be prioritized and chosen for funding by the Steering Committee.

What is expected from the city for a City Agriculture Plan?

The success of a City Agriculture Plan is directly tied to the level of commitment from the city as a whole and city staff willing to support the process. Specific expectations include: 

  • Assistance from relevant city staff and officials to ensure that the plan is developed in a timely manner with city input and adopted by relevant city leadership including City Council

  • Participate in regular check ins throughout the community engagement and planning process to discuss progress with the Project Management team including FWA and ARC representatives

  • Provide guidance and feedback to FWA and ARC regarding project deliverables and public engagement activities such as convenings, site visits, and events

  • Participate in public presentations, reports, and/or media interviews about the City Agriculture Plan

  • Participation on the Steering Committee by at least one representative from the Planning and Economic Development departments

  • Provide matching in-kind and/or fiscal support for the City Agriculture Plan’s implementation such as staff time, use of city-owned equipment and/or city-owned real estate, and marketing/promotional support of at least $75,000

Where have City Agriculture Plans been developed or implemented before?

East Point, GA
In 2019, FWA and ARC piloted the City Agriculture Plan program in the City of East Point. FWA led the community engagement phase, followed by ARC’s planning phase with a diverse Steering Committee. The City Agriculture Plan was finalized in August 2020, approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission in November 2020, and adopted as a part of the Community Goals section of the city’s Comprehensive Plan by City Council in April 2021. In September of 2021, the City also approved the formation of a city-level Local Food Ecosystem Commission to guide the plan’s implementation and advise the Mayor and Council on all matters related to local food and agriculture. Implementation of the plan’s recommendations in East Point has been funded by a $250,000 USDA Regional Food System Partnership grant that leveraged the FWA implementation grant as match. 

Alpharetta, GA
In 2021, FWA and ARC opened the application process for cities to develop the region’s second City Agriculture Plan. Alpharetta was selected due to their high level of community support and city staff dedicated to advancing Community Agriculture Programs. After a successful and efficient community engagement and planning phase, the City of Alpharetta adopted their plan in December 2022. Since 2023, 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 with local residents and Old Rucker Farm. The city continues to execute implementation projects using a $75,000 grant from FWA, matched by additional city funds.

Jonesboro, GA
In 2022, FWA and ARC selected the City of Jonesboro to develop the next City Agriculture Plan, the region’s first in Clayton County. Jonesboro’s application included a strong vision to create programs for a sustainable local food system in their community and commitment to increasing access to growing spaces for all of their residents. Following an extensive community engagement phase led by FWA, Jonesboro's Steering Committee, FWA, and ARC collaboratively developed a thoughtful and responsive City Agriculture Plan. The plan was officially adopted in November 2023. Implementation began in spring 2024, in partnership with two local organizations, focusing on priorities such as improving community garden infrastructure, enhancing food access, and providing educational opportunities.

Austell, GA
In 2023, the City of Austell was selected by FWA and the ARC 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. Following a successful and well-attended community engagement phase led by FWA, Austell's Steering Committee is now working with ARC to develop their City Agriculture Plan.

What value can a City Agriculture Plan bring to our city?

Right now, many cities within the Atlanta region are experiencing rapid development. A City Agriculture Plan can help ensure that supporting and growing your city’s local food system remains a priority amidst this growth. City Agriculture Plans will contain strategies to support healthy communities by increasing access to fresh and affordable food, expanding opportunities for knowledge sharing, and celebrating culturally diverse foods and traditions. A City Agriculture Plan will also aim to advocate for a resilient local economy and cultivate sustainable practices within your local food system.

See FWA’s resource on supporting local food systems through community driven planning here. 

Where can I find other urban agriculture resources to do some more research?

Download the Reimagine How Cities Grow value proposition booklet to learn more about what strengthening your city’s local food system and the values of local food system planning we recommend. You can find additional examples of programs and policies implemented by other cities here.

Have a question we didn’t cover?

Reach out to Sr. Policy and Planning Manager, Sarah Brown at sarah@foodwellalliance.org.