has received federal funding to plan the first food hub in the greater Las Vegas area. The project will be designed to help urban and rural producers access larger markets and customers they may not reach individually, ultimately working to strengthen southern ΒιΆΉΣ³»’s food system.
The one-year planning phase is a collaborative effort led by Extension's , the and . Along with agricultural partners and community leaders, the team will develop a business plan for a central location where farmers can deliver their produce. The plan for the facility is to have it be equipped to process, package and ensure the produce meets food safety standards before being transported to markets in ΒιΆΉΣ³» and beyond.
“Our farmers are mastering the art of growing produce in the area’s hot and dry climate,” said Sabina Malik, assistant professor and state specialist with Extension. “This initiative aims to ease the financial and time challenges small-scale growers face by helping with distribution, marketing and packaging – allowing them to focus on what they do best – farming.”
The $150,000 grant marks a significant step toward improving food security in southern ΒιΆΉΣ³», one of the state’s most food-insecure regions. It is part of a $6 million nationwide initiative by the Healthy Food Financing Initiative Planning Grant Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support organizations in the initial stages of planning for projects that enhance access to healthy food, particularly in underserved communities.
The food hub initiative was shaped by roundtable discussions where small and midscale farmers highlighted their needs for technical and marketing support to help scale production and meet the rising local demand for fresh locally grown food.
The planning process will establish critical business elements, including produce collection points, service provider agreements, location selection and marketing strategies, to ensure the hub’s success. Following this phase, Extension plans to pursue additional funding to implement the business plan and launch the hub.
Extension partnerships: Collaborative efforts to build southern ΒιΆΉΣ³»’s agricultural future
The key to Extension’s efforts to promote a sustainable food system in southern ΒιΆΉΣ³» has been its strong local partnerships.
Collaborations with Zion United Methodist Church, a North Las Vegas community leader in sustainable agriculture, and Energy Tree, a ΒιΆΉΣ³» sustainable technologies consulting firm, recently led to the launch of the Southern ΒιΆΉΣ³» Urban Agricultural Assistance Program.
The program received nearly $900,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency through a partnership with To Improve Mississippi Economics – T.I.M.E., Inc. – a nonprofit supporting urban agricultural producers in underserved communities. Of this funding, Extension received a $165,000 subaward to assist emerging urban farms in qualifying for U.S. Department of Agriculture’s resources.
“Currently, the USDA offers significant funding opportunities, but many ΒιΆΉΣ³» farmers struggle to access them due to lacking the necessary prerequisites and difficulties navigating the application processes,” said Malik, who also serves on the ΒιΆΉΣ³» Council on Food Security and chairs the Southern ΒιΆΉΣ³» Food Council.
Extension will lead community outreach through workshops and roundtables, helping producers access and utilize federal agricultural loans and grants. Zion United Methodist Church will support urban producers by distributing microgrants to advance their agricultural efforts. Energy Tree, with its expertise in urban agriculture technical assistance, will create educational content and develop a web portal featuring training materials and announcements for federal grant opportunities.
From dirt to data: Empowering farmers in a high-tech lab
The federally funded training will be held at the North Las Vegas Urban Center for Advanced Agricultural Technologies, a state-of-the-art facility established in 2021 through a partnership with the City of North Las Vegas, Zion Urban Farm and Energy Tree. Designed by Energy Tree, the Center focuses on advancing urban farming techniques and equipping a new generation of agricultural workers with indoor farming skills.
“This initiative is a game-changer for southern ΒιΆΉΣ³» farmers and the broader community,” said Amber Bosket, Energy Tree’s chief operating officer. “Our overall goal is to help local farmers expand their operations through federal resources and the many technical skills we provide to help them handle the complexities of modern urban farming.”
Federal backing to position ΒιΆΉΣ³» as a regional food hub
Over the next two years, the program will collect feedback through its roundtables to help the federal agencies better support local farmers.
“These roundtables have provided collaborative platforms for urban farmers, community leaders, policymakers and educators, to identify critical needs within urban agriculture,” said Staci Emm, an Extension professor and ΒιΆΉΣ³»’s implementation manager for the Southwest Regional Food Business Center who is also an advisor for the Southern ΒιΆΉΣ³» Urban Agricultural Assistance Program. “By fostering dialogue, Extension has helped uncover critical food security concerns in urban environments, paving way for solutions now supported by federal initiatives.”
For more information on Extension’s Food System programs, contact Malik.
For more information on the , contact Staci Emm or call her at 775-784-4848.
Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should contact Paul Lessick, civil rights and compliance coordinator, or call him at 702-257-5577 at least five days prior to the scheduled event with their needs or for more information.
