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TDA accepting proposals for agricultural projects in urban schoTexas Agriculture Commissioner, Todd Staples announced May 18 the Texas Department of Agriculture is accepting grant applications for up to $2,500 each for elementary school agricultural projects in urban school districts of 49,000 students or more. Grant applications must be received by TDA no later than 5 p.m., June 15 and must show how a school project will increase elementary students' understanding of agriculture. The projects must be implemented during a period from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, 2008. "It is extremely vital that students in our urban areas understand the importance of agriculture and how it impacts their daily lives," Commissioner Staples said. "These projects give students a real-world, hands-on opportunity to learn where their food and clothes come from and practical knowledge that will last them a lifetime." Elementary schools in the following 15 independent school districts are eligible to apply for the funding: Arlington ISD; Austin ISD; Dallas ISD; El Paso ISD; Fort Worth ISD; Garland ISD; Houston ISD and districts near Houston, including Aldine ISD, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and Fort Bend ISD; Pasadena ISD; Plano ISD; and San Antonio ISD, as well as districts near San Antonio including North East ISD and Northside ISD. Since the program began in 1999, TDA has awarded 48 urban school grants. Previous school projects have included: Vegetable gardens; a Texas-shaped butterfly garden with native plants; a salsa garden of tomatoes, herbs, peppers and onions; wheelchair-accessible gardens for gifted and special education students; gardens to distribute vegetables and flowers to economically disadvantaged families in a community; animal care; and outdoor environments to learn about the life cycle of plants and animals. The Urban School Grant Program is funded by donations from Borden Dairy and Kitchen Craft, which are exhibitors in TDA's Food and Fiber Pavilion at the State Fair of Texas. "Borden Dairy and Kitchen Craft are true leaders in the effort to bring agriculture to urban schoolchildren," Commissioner Staples said. "I appreciate their generosity and their dedication to helping kids dig in and learn a thing or two about Texas agriculture." For more information about applying for an urban school grant, contact TDA's Contracts and Grant Coordinator, Catherine Wright-Steele at 512-463-7700 or e-mail at catherine.wright-steele@tda.state.tx.us. Information on the grant process can also be found on TDA's website, www.tda.state.tx.us under "Programs By Name." Date: 6/11/07
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