PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm has received a $20,000 grant from Rhode Island Energy and the PPL Foundation’s Empowering Communities Grant program to support programming at the Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm. 

The Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm is a student-driven community farm education program at Cloverbud Ranch on Jepson Lane where students problem solve during authentication learning and community collaboration, so that they become productive citizens in our community. 

“This funding was announced earlier this summer and has already enhanced the farm’s mission. As the program has grown, we have hired a full-time environmental educator and farm manager to oversee farm programming and maintenance,” said Sara Churgin, district manager of the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District (ERICD), the farm’s fiscal agent and partner. 

The PPL Foundation “empowers communities by supporting student success from cradle to career; advancing diversity, equity and inclusion; and promoting the development of vibrant and sustainable communities.” It provides grants to communities in Rhode Island Energy’s service area. 

There were over 50 applications for funding during the highly competitive grant cycle and The PPL Foundation awarded support to 22 organizations working to empower the communities they serve.

For more information, contact Sara Churgin at schurgin.ericd@gmail.com, or visit easternriconservation.org/aginnovation-farm.