For Immediate Release
January 23, 2023
FCSAmerica, SDAF Award Grants for MPPS Greenhouse
Mobridge-Pollock Public School students may have new opportunities to learn about agriculture and food production as early as this August. The MPPS School Greenhouse Project, a partnership between the Mobridge-Pollock Public School District and Mobridge Community Development Corporation, was recently awarded a $3,000 Ag Innovators Grant from the South Dakota Ag Foundation and a $10,000 Working Here Grant from Farm Credit Services of America.
MCDC has applied for several grants on behalf of the school district in its efforts to help fund the greenhouse, which will be located at the MPMS/MPHS campus. “The support for this project from Farm Credit Services of America and the SD Ag Foundation is so exciting,” says Haden Merkel, President of MCDC. “With these two grants and contributions from our SeedMoney campaign, we’re over halfway to our goal. We are very thankful for their commitment to ag education and our community.
Seeking help from grants is only part of the fundraising plans for this project. Between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15, MCDC participated in a 30-day online crowdfunding campaign through SeedMoney.org. The total amount raised, just shy of $2,400, was four times higher than their original goal. Mobridge Ace Hardware contributed a $600 match in the early days of the campaign and Bridge City Real Estate helped it finish strong with a $500 donation the last day of the campaign. The generosity of the organizations and individuals that donated during the campaign paid dividends– the project finished in the top 25% of campaigns earning it an additional grant of $200 from SeedMoney.org.
MPPS administration and faculty are making plans for how to use the new space. Katie Konold looks forward to having the new space for her life sciences classes. Culinary Arts teacher, Ella Gonzales, sees potential as well. “We are excited to start discovering the techniques best suited to grow plants,” said Gonzales, “The students will be hands-on and get to see firsthand the results of their hard work. Once the greenhouse is up, we can learn more about food crops and growing them in places where space is limited. We would like the community to see MPPS students develop their green thumbs while giving back to the community.”
“We are so thankful for the school district’s partnership and all the individuals, families, and businesses who have jumped in to help us with this project already,” says Merkel. “Our goal is to have a well-designed, permanent greenhouse ready in time for the 2023-2024 school year. It’s ambitious, but with the community’s continued support, I think we can do it.” MCDC will continue to work on fundraising through grants and donations for the $30,000-plus project. If you’d like to contribute, donations are tax deductible and can be dropped off or mailed to 114 1st Ave E in Mobridge. For updates on the project’s progress, follow the MCDC at www.facebook.com/MobridgeCDC.