Planned agriculture park gets $700,000 grant

A $700,000 grant has been awarded to help fund planning, construction and programming of an Agriculture Park in Columbia.

The grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health will begin in July and will run through August 2021. At least 25 percent of that grant will be used for construction funds, including teaching and infrastructure at the park. The fund will also support a Community Food Assessment, which will work with stakeholders to determine community needs the park can serve.

“The support from the Missouri Foundation for Health is a huge vote of confidence for this project,” said Billy Polansky, executive director of CCUA.

While a master plan will be gradually implemented over the next few years, the current schedule calls for ground to break in late 2017. The Columbia Farmer’s Market says if this timeline is followed, it will be able to use the first section of the Farmer’s Market Building this spring.

Last Friday, ABC 17 News reported both building staff and the Columbia Fire Department cited issues with the proposed agriculture park in central city.

Parks Director Mike Griggs withdrew the request for a variance to some city rules regarding building and construction.