Located on Murray State College’s Ardmore campus, the Southern Oklahoma Urban & Small Farm Hub has been awarded $350,000 through the Grow Local Support Fund to help strengthen local food production across southern Oklahoma.

A total of 46 small farms, community gardens and local food producers within the Chickasaw Nation treaty territory received awards ranging from $5,700 to $8,000 to expand their operations, adopt sustainable farming practices and increase access to fresh, healthy food in their communities.

Eligible applicants included small farms and community gardens that produce food for local communities and have annual revenues of less than $350,000. Award recipients were notified in April and funds are being distributed on a reimbursement basis as producers complete approved project milestones.

"This is about much more than individual farm improvements,” said Kristine Nichols, Urban Ag Hub Coordinator. “These projects build lasting infrastructure to help producers supply fresh, local food to southern Oklahoma families for years to come.”

Several funded projects showcase innovative community-based approaches to food production, including a beekeeper who provides mobile pollination services to local farms, a soup kitchen that grows produce for meal preparation and a volunteer community garden in Ardmore that offers educational opportunities for youth and adults.

“These grants represent an important investment in the producers who feed our communities,” said Dr. Tim Faltyn, Murray State College President. “Small-scale farmers often face significant financial barriers when trying to expand their operations, adopt more sustainable practices or invest in infrastructure to increase production. This support helps bridge that gap while reducing financial risk.”

The Hub’s work is part of a broader regional effort to strengthen local food systems, support agricultural entrepreneurship and improve community health by expanding access to fresh food. The Grow Local Support Fund was made possible by a USDA Urban and Innovative Agriculture grant administered by To Improve Mississippi Economics, Inc. (T.I.M.E., Inc.).

For more information, contact Kristine Nichols at 580-319-0353. Visit mscok.edu/news/Urban-Small-Farm-Hub to read more about the partnerships and the overall initiative.