Growing Cleveland

Policy, Programs and Incentives to Improve

Community, Economy and Environment with Urban

Agriculture and a Local, Sustainable Food System.

GROWING CLEVELAND

Page 2

CITY OF CLEVELAND

SUSTAINABLE CLEVELAND 2019: YEAR OF LOCAL FOOD

LOCAL FOOD MOVEMENT IN CLEVELAND

Mayor Frank G. Jackson’s agenda to transform Cleveland into a thriving, sustainable City has

resulted in impactful policies and programs that support the creation of a more local, sustainable food

system. The City of Cleveland defines local food as the ―production, process, distribution and

consumption of food within a 100 mile radius.‖

The focus on creating a local food

economy is a key component of Mayor

Jackson’s Sustainable Cleveland 2019

initiative. Living and growing as a

sustainable city will ensure Cleveland’s

longevity. Sustainable Cleveland is a 10-

year initiative that engages everyone to

work together to design and develop a

thriving and resilient Cleveland that

leverages its wealth of assets to build

economic, social and environmental well

-being for all.

The City of Cleveland’s programs and

policies impact all parts of a local sustainable food system including land use, production,

processing, distribution, retail outlets and consumer access. A focus on local food is essential for

Cleveland because of the environmental, community and economic benefits. While a focus on local

food can lead to a significant improvement in air and soil quality and a reduction of the city’s carbon

footprint, it also represents a sector that can increase wealth, and create jobs.

The City of Cleveland strives to lead by example in local foods and urban agriculture. As a founding

member of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Food Policy Coalition in 2007, the municipal

government has collaborated to create a variety of innovative policy and programs that are quickly

becoming best practices nationwide. In 2008, SustainLane ranked Cleveland as the second best City

in the nation for its local food and urban agriculture work, and in 2010, Travel and Leisure named

Cleveland one of the ―World’s Most Visionary Cities‖ for the same reason.

Cleveland has more than 200 Community Gardens, a dozen farmers’

markets, 20 urban farms and market gardens, and more than 25

Community Supported Agriculture programs. These local food assets

help to address the region’s food desserts—areas that lack access to

healthy foods.

MAYOR FRANK JACKSON ON SUSTAINABILITY

Cleveland is becoming a leader in sustainable development. By integrating the principles of

sustainability with economic development, we are strengthening our local economy and positioning

Cleveland for future prosperity. By adopting this approach, we have helped grow the local food

economy here in Cleveland, supported new businesses and created new jobs.

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URBAN AGRICULTURE

URBAN AGRICULTURE ZONING TRANSFORMATIONS

AGRICULTURE & FARM STANDS IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS

Most fundamental change was amendment to zoning code to permit agriculture as principal use

of vacant lot in residential districts;

Allows sale of produce from farm stands in residential districts with case by case approval by

City’s Board of Zoning Appeals.

Neighborhood Farm Stand City Fresh Garden

RESTRICTIONS ON THE KEEPING OF FARM ANIMALS & BEES “CHICKENS & BEES”

The most highly publicized of Cleveland’s regulatory changes to promote urban agriculture;

Allows citizens to raise up to 6 chickens, small animals, and up to 2 beehives on small vacant lots

and backyard areas;

Requires bi-annual licensing by the City’s Public Health Department;

Championed by Councilman Joe Cimperman and the Planning Department of the City of

Cleveland

Chicken Coop on a Residential Lot Backyard Beehive

For more information on Zoning, please contact Robert Brown, Director of City Planning Commis-

sion at (216) 664-3467.

http://gatherroundfarm.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=38786398

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CITY OF CLEVELAND

URBAN GARDEN ZONING DISTRICT

Adopted one of the nation’s first urban garden district zoning ordinances, allowing the City of

Cleveland to zone land exclusively for urban garden use;

Prohibits non-agricultural uses unless the land is rezoned through a public hearing process with

notices mailed to residents in the neighborhood;

Urban gardens were considered a ―temporary‖ use for land that is waiting to be developed. Today,

urban gardens may be the ―highest & best‖ use of a vacant lot and therefore warrant protection

through zoning;

LOCAL PRODUCER, FOOD PURCHASER AND SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS INCENTIVE

One of the first cities to provide incentives to companies that buy at least 20 percent of contract

totals from regional growers. This ordinance promotes self-help for the regional economy by

providing incentives/credits to companies that compete for City work;

Local producers which fabricate, process or supply goods as well as companies which grow food in

the region can receive a 2 percent bid discount or evaluation credits;

Companies located in the region which meet certain sustainability practices set by the Office of

Sustainability can receive a 2 percent bid discount or evaluation credits;

Companies located anywhere which purchase at least 20 percent of the amount of their City

contract from local producers can receive a 2 percent bid discount or evaluation credits.

URBAN AGRICULTURE ZONING TRANSFORMATIONS

For more information on sustainability initiatives, please contact the Office of Sustainability at

(216) 664-2445.

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URBAN AGRICULTURE

GARDENING FOR GREENBACKS PROGRAM

In the summer of 2008, the City of Cleveland introduced and passed legislation which created the

Gardening for Greenbacks Program that provides grants up to $3,000 to businesses, merchants, or

local farmers. The program assists with the acquisition of tools, irrigation equipment, fencing, and

other appropriate items needed for urban gardening. The grant is provided to entrepreneurs who sell

their produce through local farmer’s markets, CSA’s (community supported agriculture) or to local

restaurants as a for-profit business. The program was created to advance the local food system

agenda and establish Cleveland as a model for local food system development. The City has

approved grant funding for 15 urban farms under the Gardening for Greenbacks Program.

In summer 2012, the City revised the Gardening for Greenbacks Program by increasing grant

amounts up to $5,000 per eligible business. The increase in grant funding is due to a financial grant

contribution to the program by CoBank, AgriBank, and Farm Credit Mid-America for the next three

years. These entities decided to contribute to the program due to its focus on Economic Development

and their belief that Cleveland is a leader in the area of urban gardening.

Erie’s Edge Farm

Erie’s Edge Farm located in Ward 3 began when

Molly Murray returned to Cleveland after teaching

and farming in southern Ohio. In 2011, Erin Laffay

also returned to Cleveland and the two women

decided to partner and expand with the goal of

reaching more people with organic, sustainably grown

food. The farm is collaborating with the Urban

Growth Farm to form the Heart of the City CSA. CSA

programs benefit farmers by providing up-front

dollars for supplies as well as a guaranteed market for

what they grow. This promotes a lifestyle of wellness

and less energy use.

Old Husher’s Farm

Old Husher’s Farm, is a market garden located in Ward 18

operated by Justin Husher. The company received the City’s

Gardening for Greenbacks Program support to partially fund

gardening related equipment and costs. The project uses food

growth as an agent of change in an attempt to bring vacant

urban land to productive reuse. In addition to incorporating

green sustainability and entrepreneurial gardening initiatives,

Old Husher’s Farm focuses on creating healthy bodies

through the implementation of a ―community yoga in the

garden‖ series. They sell their produce at local farmers

markets and on-site during the growing season.

For more information on the Gardening for Greenbacks Program please contact Kevin Schmotzer,

Executive of Small Business Development at (216) 664-3720.

http://www.cityfarmer.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/clefarm.jpg

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CITY OF CLEVELAND

URBAN AGRICULTURE INNOVATION ZONE

The City of Cleveland, through a public-private

partnership including the Ward 5 Councilwoman

Phyllis Cleveland and the Community Development

Corporation, Burten Bell Carr Development, Inc. has

supported many of the projects in the Lower Kinsman

Corridor. The Urban Agriculture Innovation Zone

was a previous residential area, adjacent to a heavy

industrial area – much like the majority of the City of

Cleveland with its manufacturing heritage. The area

was consumed by a fire in 1976, due to low water

pressure. Only a few houses remained after the fire.

The City provided funding for the environmental

testing working with the USEPA to insure the area

would be safe for urban farming.

2011 Before Photo

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URBAN AGRICULTURE


Urban Agriculture Incubator Pilot Project:

The project is a partnership of the City of Cleveland, the

Ohio State Department of Agriculture, Burten, Bell, Carr

Development Inc., Ward 5 Councilwoman Phyllis

Cleveland and Ohio State University Extension-

(Cuyahoga County)

The project developed 6 acres of City land bank property

as an urban agriculture incubator between East 81st and

East 83rd Street, north of Kinsman Avenue in Cleveland’s

Central neighborhood. The OSU Extension received the

first-ever Federal agriculture grant for an urban location

and the City received the first-ever State agriculture grant

for an urban location. As part of the local CDC’s

community plan, the area in the Central neighborhood was

designated for agricultural development. The site includes

an instruction area where 20 prospective farmers will

receive intensive training in urban agriculture, direct

marketing, and business planning. The Department of

Community Development utilized 6 acres of land through

its Land Bank Program and manages the leasing of the

property to program participants. Each of the farmers will

be provided quarter-acre market garden plots for

cultivation. The total acreage of the Urban Agriculture

Innovation Zone is 26 acres.

The Urban Agriculture Zone includes

the Rid-All Green Partnership and the

OSU Cooperative Extension’s

Kinsman Farm, with room to grow.

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CITY OF CLEVELAND


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URBAN AGRICULTURE


Rid-All Green Partnership

Rid-All Green Partnership, a minority-owned

business founded by three local entrepreneurs,

Randell McShepard, Damien Forshe, and Keymah

Durden, has become a key partner in the vision of the

Urban Agricultural Innovation Zone. Their campus

uses urban agriculture to educate the next generation

of Clevelanders about sustainable healthy living.

The mission of Rid-All Green Partnership is to

transform communities by providing accessible and

nutritionally rich food to improve overall health

through training and educational activities. They

operate a self-sustaining food production system that

produces vegetables and tilapia through aquaponics,

a year-round growing method, where runoff from the

overhead garden feed the fish and the fish tank water

irrigates the plants. They have partnered with the

West Side Market and Cleveland Food Bank to

collect food waste for composting.

Rid-All Green Partnership is seeking to increase its

capacity by expanding the space it has to operate. They are proposing to create additional hydroponics

and aquaponics stations at the project site across from their current facility. This will allow them to

use their existing hoop houses to grow kale, spinach, celery, and broccoli in the winter months, while

the new structure will focus on tomatoes which are scarce in the Cleveland during the winter months.

The Rid-All Green Partnership anchors the 26-acre

Urban Agriculture Innovation Zone. They acquired the

land from the City land bank in 2010. By 2011, the

land was consolidated, excavated and plans for the

project started to come to fruition. Rid-All Green

Partnership has been harvesting the following:

Rid–All Successes

Fresh Produce - 150 - 200 pounds of fresh vegetables

and locally-grown produce a week are harvested.

Much of the vegetables and produce has been sold to

local residents, Sirna & Sons, a local food distributor in Cleveland and to the St. Vincent Charity

Medical Center. Produce grown and sold includes: corn, tomatoes, lettuce, zucchini, peppers, celery,

collard greens, kale, broccoli, spinach and herbs such as sweet basil, thyme and oregano;

(continued)

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CITY OF CLEVELAND


(Rid All Successes continued)

Aquaponics – an average of 20 pounds of tilapia are sold each week through Rid-All’s aquaponics

system on site. The fish are sold directly to residents or local chefs. Today, there are over 3,000 live

tilapia available on site for purchase. The fish became available for sale in February of this year while

commanding a $7 per pound price.

Composting – a ¼ acre of the site is dedicated to composting. The Cleveland Food Bank brings 4-10

tons a week of damaged / spoiled vegetables, fruit and produce for composting that would have ended

up in a landfill. The City of Cleveland delivers 100-200 yards of wood chips and leaf hummus per

week. When ready and available, the compost is sold by the 4-pound bag to local residents or can be

delivered in bulk for commercial use or market gardens. Rid-All Green Partnership is selling

approximately 400-500 cubic yards of compost a week.

Greenhouse Training Project—Future expansion of the Urban Agriculture Innovation Zone is

currently underway.

Additional land (16

parcels) are being

acquired and consolidated

in 2012. The land will be

used to build the

Greenhouse Training

Project. Project costs are

estimated at $800,000. As

part of the project, two

classrooms will be

installed to conduct

training, a food prep

kitchen, a retail store,

interior urban gardens and

a second aquaponics

system will be added. Zero pesticides will be used at the site. Upon completion, 25 jobs will be

created. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2013.

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URBAN AGRICULTURE

NEIGHBORHOOD LOCAL FOOD DEVELOPMENT

For more information on Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. please contact Timothy Tramble,

Executive Director at (216) 341-1455 or at www.bbbcdevelopment.org

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CITY OF CLEVELAND

Green City Growers:

The City of Cleveland was the first to receive Federal and State grants for the development of urban

agriculture. The City was awarded the following grants to assist Green City Growers, a local co-

operative, with their $16.5 million project: (1) a $2 million BEDI Grant, (2) $8 million in HUD 108

Loan funding secured by the City, (3) $450,000 in the City’s EDA Funds, and (4) approximately $6

million in private debt and New Markets Tax Credit equity.

The greenhouse will primarily produce lettuce and other leafy greens. It is expected to reach an annual

production of 3 million heads. One percent of the production will be provided to the Cleveland Food

Bank to be distributed throughout Cleveland’s east side. The donation is expected to provide

In addition, the project will be

part of the Evergreen Initiative,

which works to help lift low-

income residents out of

poverty. The Initiative focuses

on hiring individuals from the

neighborhood to become

employee-owners, while

creating additional wealth and

ownership in the

community. In 10 years, the

average employee is expected

to have earned an ownership

share valued at $65,000 in

equity. The Green City

Growers project expects to hire

40 local residents for the

operation of the greenhouse at

peak capacity. The project will

target individuals with criminal

records and a history of homelessness in an attempt to offer a pathway out of recidivism and poverty.

The City and Green City Growers partnered with the local non-profit CDC, Burten, Bell, Carr

Development, Inc. to assemble the individual parcels necessary for the 10-acre development site.

Land assembly required the acquisition of over 30 parcels in compliance with Uniform Relocation

Act regulations. The project team faced numerous challenges in moving homeowners and provided

services including real estate search assistance, extermination, moving, and creative deal structures,

including land swaps, in order to meet the needs of the relocated property owners.

GREEN CITY GROWERS

The Greenhouse under construction, May 2012.

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URBAN AGRICULTURE

LOCAL FOOD PROJECTS & PARTNERS

Bistro at Bridgeport Place The City of Cleveland assisted Burten, Bell, Carr

Development Inc. with a match of $40,000 to help them

win an HHS grant of $759,374 to establish a fresh food

production center. The aim is to improve access to fresh

fruits, vegetables and nutritious meals and eliminating

food deserts in underserved communities. It will feature

fresh food stands, a cafe serving hot meals with organic

foods made from local products and a community

kitchen where local farmers will store fresh produce

while reputable chefs will hold cooking demonstrations

to teach residents how to prepare healthy meals. The construction for the project will be completed in

Fall 2012 and is expected to serve at least 20,000 citizens in the first year and create 64 jobs for

low-income residents.

Cleveland Crops Cleveland Crops is an agricultural

training and employment collaboration

between the Cuyahoga County Board of

Developmental Disabilities, SAW, Inc.

and Ohio State University Extension —

Cuyahoga County. The project currently

employs more than 40 adults with

developmental disabilities in urban

agriculture. Cleveland Crops has a half a

dozen farms in Cleveland including a

garden in front of City Hall at Willard

Park near the Free Stamp. They are

currently developing other farms in

Cleveland with the goal of employing up

to 100 individuals with developmental

disabilities over the next three years.

They are currently constructing their

agricultural education center at 5320 Stanard Avenue. This value added project will include a one

half acre greenhouse, produce processing, dehydration, refrigerated storage, a commercial kitchen, a

vehicle storage garage, several hoop houses and other season extension structures for year round

farming and employment.

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CITY OF CLEVELAND

SUMMER SPROUT COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAM

Summer Sprout Program

Summer Sprout is the City of Cleveland’s oldest and largest community gardening program. Starting

with the Morganic Garden located in the Slavic Village neighborhood, the City has supported

community gardens through the Summer Sprout program since 1976. Since that time, Summer Sprout

has grown to include 3,631 gardeners who cultivate more than 40 acres at 180 gardens in all 19 wards

of the City. The City funds the program with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds

and contracts with the Ohio State University Extension Program to administer the program.

Participants in this program are eligible to lease City-owned land, receive seeds, starter plants, topsoil,

humus, soil testing and lumber for raised beds. The program is administered by the OSU Extension-

Cuyahoga County, who provide on-site technical assistance and a range of research based education.

Ben Franklin Community Garden

Located in the South Hills neighborhood of Old Brooklyn since 1919, the Ben Franklin Community

Garden is one of the largest and oldest community gardens in the city. The Garden has 204 plots and

has approximately 180 gardeners per year. The garden is in the back portion of Benjamin Franklin

Elementary School, and was originally part of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s school

garden program. A children’s garden has been incorporated into the current site to continue the

legacy. The Summer Sprout program assists both the youth and neighborhood gardeners with plants

and assistance with their crops each year.

The garden is well represented each year at the Cuyahoga County fair, where the garden has won Best

Community Garden since 2008. In addition, the garden makes a substantial contribution to the Cuya-

hoga County Food Bank each year.

For more information on the Summer Sprout Program, contact Jim Thompson with the OSU Extension

at (216) 429-8200 Ext. 246

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URBAN AGRICULTURE

CLEVELAND LAND REUTILIZATION PROGRAM

Re-Imagining Cleveland Pilot Program

The City of Cleveland’s Land Bank Program takes title to vacant and abandoned property - primarily

through tax foreclosure - and makes the land available at subsidized rates so that it can be put to a

productive use. Increasingly, the City has encouraged and marketed land bank lots to urban farmers

and gardeners. City’s Land Bank Program has reviewed 84 applications greening and gardening

projects since 2010. Many of the sites profiled in this packet, including the Urban Agriculture

Innovation Zone, are developed on land bank land leased from the City.

To encourage this activity, the Department of Community Development has funded 68 community

gardens, market gardens and greening sites throughout Cleveland through the Re-Imagining

Cleveland Pilot Program. This program was inspired by the Re-Imagining a More Sustainable

Cleveland study, which recommends strategies and policy reforms to reposition vacant land as a

community asset.

The Vineyards of Chateau Hough

Formed on three city-owned parcels in May 2010, this Re-Imagining Cleveland project is maintained

by Mansfield and Brenda Frazier. This vineyard, which is located on three quarters of an acre on

Hough Avenue, grows 300 vines of wine-making

Traminette and Frontenac grapes. In addition to

establishing a small local business, the project is

also focused on education, serving as a learning lab

for participants in a local prison reentry program.

Participants not only become versed in horticulture

best practices from existing urban and rural

vineyards, they also develop entrepreneurial skills.

Neighborhood youth, along with residents of nearby

half-way houses and transitional homes, volunteered

the work and labor necessary for the vineyard.

This project has been featured in several media outlets, including The Plain Dealer, Cleveland

Magazine, The Smithsonian Magazine and Wine Spectator among others.

Page 16

CITY OF CLEVELAND

CITY OF CLEVELAND

GARDENING FOR GREENBACKS Kevin Schmotzer

Executive for Small Business Growth

Department of Economic Development

601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 210

Cleveland, Ohio 44114

(216) 664-3720

[email protected]

Tracey Nichols, Director

Department of Economic Development



(216) 664-3611

[email protected]

CITY OF CLEVELAND

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Daryl Rush, Director

Department of Community Development



(216) 664-4000

[email protected]

CITY OF CLEVELAND

CITY PLANNING COMMISSION Robert Brown, Director

City Planning Commission



(216) 664-3467

[email protected]

CITY OF CLEVELAND

OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY Jenita McGowan, Chief of Sustainability

Office of Sustainability

601 Lakeside Avenue


(216) 664-2445

[email protected]

URBAN AGRICULTURE INFORMATION


BISTRO AT BRIDGEPORT PLACE

BURTEN BELL CARR DEVELOPMENT, INC.

Tim Tramble, Executive Director

Burten Bell Carr Development, Inc.

7201 Kinsman Road, Suite 104


(216) 341-1455

[email protected]

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

Ohio State University Extension, Cuyahoga County

Morgan Taggart, Program Specialist

[email protected]

Jim Thompson, Program Coordinator

Summer Sprout Program

[email protected]

Agriculture and Natural Resources

9127 Miles Avenue


(216) 429-8200

CLEVELAND CROPS PROGRAM Ifeoma Ezepue, Economic Development Manager

Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities

& SAW, Inc. dba Cleveland Crops

1275 Lakeside Avenue


(216) 736-4569

[email protected]

CLEVELAND LAND BANK PROGRAM Lilli Roberts, Land Bank Application Specialist



(216) 664-4126

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Growing Cleveland