AmeriCorps NCCC Comes to Build Columbia's Agriculture Park

March 15, 2019

PRESS RELEASE

TEAM OF WORKERS TO HELP BUILD COLUMBIA’S AGRICULTURE PARK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A team of 8-12 AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) members will be coming to Columbia on April 12, 2019. They will work full time for three months to help build Columbia’s Agriculture Park, which is currently under construction at Clary-Shy Park, adjacent to the ARC on West Ash Street in Columbia. Columbia’s Agriculture Park has an anticipated opening day set for Saturday, April 27th, 2019, when the Columbia Farmers Market will open under the new MU Health Care Pavilion. Throughout the spring and summer months, the NCCC team will work alongside Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture’s staff and volunteers to build demonstration gardens throughout the park. The team will also spend time working at CCUA’s Urban Farm, Kilgore’s Community Garden, and at the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri.

Columbia’s Agriculture Park is a public-private partnership between Columbia Parks and Recreation, Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, Columbia Farmers Market, and Sustainable Farms and Communities. Since 2015 the partnership has been planning and fundraising for the park improvement. Over $4 million has been raised for the park’s construction. The scope of Phase 1 construction includes: earthworks, utility upgrades, stormwater upgrades, all concrete for the MU Health Care Pavilion, the middle portion of the MU Health Care Pavilion structure, paved recreation trails throughout the park, barn, greenhouse, one-room schoolhouse, nature play area, playground, pedestrian plaza, and 3+ acres of demonstration and production gardens. The forthcoming Phase 2 of development includes: Completion of the MU Health Care Pavilion and construction of the 10,000 square foot Kitchen, Resource, & Event Center. To learn more about park visit BuildThisTown.org

Carrie Hargrove, Operations Director for Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture said, “We’re very excited to welcome this team to Columbia. We’ve got a lot of work to do at the park. We’ll see a big transformation out there this year.”

AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, residential, team-based program for young adults, age 18-24. Members develop leadership skills and strengthen communities by completing service projects and gaining life experience. AmeriCorps NCCC partners with local and federal organizations to complete hands-on service projects throughout the United States. Project sponsors include national, community and faith-based nonprofit organizations, municipal and state governments, federal agencies, parks and schools. National partners include the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and the U.S. Forest Service.

During a 10-month service term, AmeriCorps NCCC teams complete multiple projects that address essential community needs throughout the United States. Team members receive lodging, transportation, uniforms and meals. Upon the completion of the program, members are eligible to receive the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award equal to the maximum Pell Grant amount: $6,095, as of Oct. 1 2018. To learn more about AmeriCorps visit NationalService.gov

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact:

Carrie Hargrove, Operations Director, Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture

Carrie@ColumbiaUrbanAg.org 573-239-2286

Sarah Lyke, Assistant Program Director, Corporation for National and Community Service

slyke@cns.gov 303-844-7439