The document summarizes policies and programs in Cleveland aimed at developing a local, sustainable food system through urban agriculture. Key points include: - Mayor Frank Jackson's Sustainable Cleveland 2019 initiative focuses on creating a local food economy and ensuring the city's longevity. - Cleveland has over 200 community gardens, a dozen farmers markets, 20 urban farms, and 25 CSA programs to address "food deserts" and increase access to healthy foods. - Zoning changes allow agriculture in residential areas and keeping of chickens and bees with licensing. An urban garden zoning district was also created. - Incentives promote purchasing from local producers and sustainable businesses. The Gardening for Greenbacks program provides grants up to $5,000

1. GROWING CLEVELAND
Policy, Programs and Incentives to Improve
Community, Economy and Environment with Urban
Agriculture and a Local, Sustainable Food System.

2. CITY OF CLEVELAND
SUSTAINABLE CLEVELAND 2019: YEAR OF LOCAL FOOD
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.
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.
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3. 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.
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4. CITY OF CLEVELAND
URBAN AGRICULTURE ZONING TRANSFORMATIONS
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.
For more information on sustainability initiatives, please contact the Office of Sustainability at
(216) 664-2445.
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5. 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.
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6. 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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7. URBAN AGRICULTURE
URBAN AGRICULTURE INNOVATION ZONE
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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8. CITY OF CLEVELAND
URBAN AGRICULTURE INNOVATION ZONE
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9. URBAN AGRICULTURE
URBAN AGRICULTURE INNOVATION ZONE
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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10. CITY OF CLEVELAND
URBAN AGRICULTURE INNOVATION ZONE
(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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11. 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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12. CITY OF CLEVELAND
GREEN CITY GROWERS
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 Greenhouse under construction, May 2012.
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.
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13. 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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14. 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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15. 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.
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16. CITY OF CLEVELAND
URBAN AGRICULTURE INFORMATION
CITY OF CLEVELAND URBAN AGRICULTURE INNOVATION ZONE
GARDENING FOR GREENBACKS BISTRO AT BRIDGEPORT PLACE
Kevin Schmotzer BURTEN BELL CARR DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Executive for Small Business Growth Tim Tramble, Executive Director
Department of Economic Development Burten Bell Carr Development, Inc.
601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 210 7201 Kinsman Road, Suite 104
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Cleveland, Ohio 44104
(216) 664-3720
kschmotzer@city.cleveland.oh.us
(216) 341-1455
ttramble@bbcdevelopment.org
Tracey Nichols, Director
Department of Economic Development OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 210 Ohio State University Extension, Cuyahoga County
Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Morgan Taggart, Program Specialist
(216) 664-3611 Taggart.32@osu.edu
tnichols2@city.cleveland.oh.us Jim Thompson, Program Coordinator
Summer Sprout Program
CITY OF CLEVELAND Thompson.1608@osu.edu
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Agriculture and Natural Resources
Daryl Rush, Director 9127 Miles Avenue
Department of Community Development Cleveland, Ohio 44105
601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 320
(216) 429-8200
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
(216) 664-4000
drush@city.cleveland.oh.us CLEVELAND CROPS PROGRAM
Ifeoma Ezepue, Economic Development Manager
Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities
CITY OF CLEVELAND & SAW, Inc. dba Cleveland Crops
CITY PLANNING COMMISSION 1275 Lakeside Avenue
Robert Brown, Director Cleveland, Ohio 44114
City Planning Commission (216) 736-4569
601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 501
ezepue.ifeoma@cuyahogabdd.org
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
(216) 664-3467
rbrown@city.cleveland.oh.us CLEVELAND LAND BANK PROGRAM
Lilli Roberts, Land Bank Application Specialist
CITY OF CLEVELAND 601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 320
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY (216) 664-4126
Jenita McGowan, Chief of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
Lroberts@city.cleveland.oh.us
601 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
(216) 664-2445
jmcgowan@city.cleveland.oh.us
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