Item:
Title
Budget Amendment Ordinance No. 27BCC025 Cooperative Extension to Recognize $35,000 from the City of Durham to Increase Access to Food and Nutritional Support and Approval of Interlocal Cooperation Agreement Between Durham County and the City of Durham
Body
Date of BOCC Meeting: September 14, 2026
Request For Board Action:
Agenda Text
The Board is requested approve Budget Amendment Ordinance No. 27BCC025 Cooperative Extension to Recognize $35,000 from the City of Durham to Increase Access to Food and Nutritional Support and Approval of Interlocal Cooperation Agreement Between Durham County and the City of Durham
The City of Durham has received a $175,000 grant from the African American Mayors Association and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America to advance community health and expand access to nutritious food. Through its grant project, “The Together Table,” the City will fund four existing food security initiatives in Durham to enhance their impact and deepen collaboration across organizations.
Durham County Cooperative Extension is one of the awardees. The City intends to pass through $35,000 of the grant funds to Cooperative Extension to expand and strengthen Durham’s community garden network, and to provide community-centered cooking and nutrition education.
At Cooperative Extension, the project will be co-led by the Food Security, Family & Consumer Sciences, and Agriculture teams. This grant allows the Extension teams to expand several successful programs to meet increased community need. Funding will support a part-time contractor for a Community Garden Coordinator role. The Coordinator will lead technical assistance, resource planning, and training to help community gardens become more productive, resilient, and accessible-particularly in neighborhoods with limited access to food and garden resources. The project will also expand community cooking and nutrition education programming, helping residents prepare healthy, affordable meals.
While the County typically leads food security efforts in Durham, this grant creates an important opportunity for new County-City collaboration. This project will provide immediate support to existing initiatives during a time of heightened food insecurity, while building a foundation for future partnerships to expand food access in Durham.
The City of Durham will present the interlocal agreement for approval at the City Council meeting on Thursday, September 17, 2026. The funding for this interlocal is provided through September 2027.
Alignment With Strategic Plan: This interlocal agreement, and associated funding, aligns with the strategic focus areas of Healthy & Inclusive Community, Empowered Community, and Financial Stewardship.
Resource Persons: Raina Goldstein Bunnag, County Food Security Coordinator; Donna Rewalt, County Extension Director.
County Manager’s Recommendation: The County Manager recommends that the Board Approve Budget Amendment Ordinance No. 27BCC025 Cooperative Extension to Recognize $35,000 from the City of Durham to Increase Access to Food and Nutritional Support and Approval of Interlocal Cooperation Agreement Between Durham County and the City of Durham
Signature
County Manager: ____________________________