Homesteads for Hope Community Farm wins grand prize totaling $200,000 in Kubota’s Hometown Proud Contest
As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the U.S. Kubota Tractor Corporation hosted a Hometown Proud Contest that awarded grants to organizations across the country that are on a mission to revitalize underserved communities with new and promising solutions.
There were two parts to this contest and back in July, local nonprofit Homesteads for Hope learned that out of nearly 900 applications, they were selected as one of the five winners for the first phase of the Kubota Hometown Proud contest. They were thrilled to receive the $100,000 grant and determined to double the amount by securing the most votes in Kubota’s Community Choice online contest. Homesteads for Hope’s mission won over the hearts of people across the nation and reaffirmed to the local community why this inclusive farm is so special. With over 101,000 votes cast, Homesteads for Hope came out on top, which doubled their grant amount to $200,000.
“We couldn’t be happier,” shared CEO and Founder Jennyrae Brongo. “As a grass roots organization, we have made tremendous progress since purchasing our 55-acre farm in 2016, but we needed this boost. Honestly, the entire special needs community needed this win, now more than ever before. We are always applying for different kinds of funding and the process is usually exhausting. Working with Kubota has been different from the start. They care. They know we care and together, we will button up Phase 2 here at the farm, which gives people of all abilities a place to learn, work, and grow. This win also gives us the momentum move onto Phase 3, which includes our eagerly anticipated inclusive housing village, which will give 250+ people a place to call home.”
Grants and Media Coordinator Heather Burroughs was so appreciative of the national exposure and explained, “We currently serve over 600 families and have 3,000+ visitors each year, but our community has fully embraced what we offer and its heartbreaking to turn away families who are desperate for programming and housing options for their loved ones with special needs. This funding is a very big deal for Homesteads for Hope and we will make the most out of every penny! We are very thankful that our supporters voted for us and helped us win. With this kind of exposure, our intentional community is gaining serious traction and we would love for people to see our mission in-action. No words could adequately describe this place and the hope it stirs inside people. We encourage everyone to come out and see it for themselves.”
Homesteads for Hope is a 55-acre community farm located along the Historic Erie Canal in Ogden. While many nonprofits in the special needs community did not survive the pandemic, Homesteads grew over the last few years, and was able to take in some of the people who had nowhere else to go. Homesteads for Hope uses “nature’s classroom” to teach people with disabilities important life skills, how to work real jobs, and is a beautiful model of true inclusion. Anyone interested in learning more about Homesteads for Hope is encouraged to visit their website or Facebook page or, better yet, stop by in person. Shop at their farm market or café or enjoy one of their open to the public events, including the live music nights every Thursday.
The 2022 Kubota Hometown Proud grant for Homesteads for Hope will be used to: expand their Social Garden Program for those with more challenging needs and mobility-based disabilities; double their 80-plot community garden and the program’s impact; and renovate the estate home with new doors and windows to weatherproof the main program spaces for year-round use. With the Community Choice Grant, Homesteads for Hope will also be able to finish the renovation on their 18th century historic barns to include new siding and electrical upgrades and pour new concrete pathways to increase accessibility. These projects will allow Homesteads to triple the amount of people they serve and provide the momentum needed to start their eagerly anticipated inclusive housing village, which will give more than 250 people of all abilities much needed housing options.
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