Bizzarro announces $328K in grants for innovative agriculture projects

Four Erie County applicants awarded funding

Rep. Ryan Bizzarro February 4, 2025 | 1:18 PM

ERIE, Feb 4 – More grant funding is on the way to Erie County, this time to support innovative agriculture projects and bolster the industry, Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie) announced Tuesday.

The money was designated through Pennsylvania’s Ag Innovation Grant Program, created through bipartisan legislation signed into law last year. Four Erie County applicants have been awarded funding:

Minority Community Investment Coalition- $130,000 to develop innovative urban agriculture projects to boost local food production and community engagement.
K Vineyards – $100,000 for advanced harvesting technology.
Integrated Agricultural Systems – $80,000 to enhance food access through urban farming projects
Fairview Evergreen Nurseries – $18,000 for an autonomous inventory project.

“The agriculture industry in Pennsylvania contributes more than $132 billion to our economy each year and supports more than 600,000 jobs. We have organizations right here in Erie County doing phenomenal work contributing to those numbers,” Bizzarro said. “This funding will help agriculture leaders in our corner of the state develop new ways to protect our resources while increasing profits.”

Championed by House Democrats, Pennsylvania’s Ag Innovation Grant Program is the first of its kind in the nation. The funding will help Pennsylvania agricultural businesses adopt innovative technologies and practices to enhance conservation and implement clean energy solutions. A total of $10 million was awarded to 88 projects across the commonwealth in the program’s first disbursement.

In just the first month of the 2025-2026 legislative session, Bizzarro has helped secure $588,000 in grant funding for Erie County.

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