The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) has dished out its latest batch of grants to the lucky winners of its Tennessee Urban Farm and Forestry (TUFF) cost share program, giving a financial boost to a mix of farms and forestry businesses and aiming to flood urban nooks with fresh food, as per the state's latest push to juice its agri-economy.

With the checkbook open, TDA sifted through 11 applications all vying for a piece of the $1.62 million pie - part of the American Rescue Plan's generous slice to the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, their main goal: to spur growth in urban areas often overlooked and underserved. Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M., was all bullish on the news, saying the "funds to increase production and enhance the well-being of our citizens, particularly in our TUFF-funded regions,” making it clear that growth is on the state's agenda, according to the TDA's official announcement.

Projects were put under the microscope, with the TDA agents' eyes peeled for their impact in the neighborhoods, especially on those who caught the toughest breaks during the COVID-19 pandemic, to foresee the number of locals it would reach, while also weighing the viability of the business's future without grant support.

With the money out the door, spots like an educational farm in Bedford County and an urban food bank in Davidson, among others are set to bloom—their pockets padded with cash from TDA bullish on their potential to swell operations, create jobs, and stretch beyond the grant's lifespan, all while locking arms with industry partners, according to the detailed process shared by the TDA.

With a total of $4 million parked for the TUFF initiative, those who missed the boat this time can throw their hats in the ring for the next grant window, opening up from April 1-15. Crafty entrepreneurs and green-thumbed city dwellers can dig up more deets or ping TDA’s Business Development Division at [email protected] for the inside scoop, with all the specifics planted on TDA's site.