Progress 09/30/22 to 05/07/25

Outputs
Target Audience: Our primary target audience for our project is military veterans (including service-disabled), defined as a person who has served in the active military, naval, or air service; who were discharged or released from the service under conditions other than dishonorable that are transitioning or have recently transitioned from the military pursuing a career in food and agriculture, and that reside in our geographical service area of Alabama (Montgomery, Dallas, Lowndes, Pike, Macon, Autauga, Elmore, Butler, and Barbour counties), Mississippi (Winston, Oktibbeha), Tennessee (Gibson County), and Florida (Marion County). Our secondary target audience is students interested in careers in science, technology, and agriculture, and limited resource and communities. Efforts are made to reach limited resourcecommunities and provide them with educational and employment opportunities in agriculture.Being a community-based organization made up of 60% retired veterans makes this project especially importantfor GreenSky Gives. We are proud of this project and passionate about 'Serving Those Who Served'. Our greatest win has been our organization's increased relationships with local USDA representatives (NRCS, FSA) and veteran organizations. While this is a multi-state program (AL, MS, TN, and FL) covering 13 counties; according to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, our 13-county service area comprises 77,437 veterans. Efforts utilized to reach our target audience: Hands-on immersive field experience/demonstrations, workshops, extension and outreach, laboratory instruction/experiential learning, and financial and operational training to manage successful agriculture operations. This project is farmer focused making every effort to play a significant role in agriculture sustainability. We work with veterans to help navigate USDA service systems and reduce the paperwork burden to assist veterans interested in food and agriculture transition from military life to agriculture and food careers. GreenSky utilized a comprehensive approach of outreach, education, and training toensurethat the project supports veterans and other limited resourcegroups byenhancing their skills and providing them with opportunities in agriculture.Outreach events and educational programs weredesigned to reach community members, raising awareness about agricultural literacy and USDA programs. In addition, GreenSky organized networking events to connect veterans with potential employers and mentors in the agricultural sector. The "Serving Those Who Served" project employed various efforts to deliver science-based knowledge to veterans through both formal and informal educational programs. Here are the key efforts: Formal Classroom Instruction: Provided structured learning experiences through a curriculum that included new technologies, business planning, and financial management. Workshops and Seminars: Hosted multiple workshops and seminars to educate veterans on various agricultural practices and business development strategies. Field Demonstrations and Hands-On Learning: Conducted field-based training sessions where veterans could engage in practical, hands-on learning experiences. Development of Curriculum: Created a comprehensive curriculum tailored to the needs of veterans, focusing on innovative teaching methodologies and practical applications in agriculture. Internships and Practicum Experiences: Offered internships and practicum opportunities to provide real-world experience and enhance workforce readiness. Extension and Outreach: Organized outreach events to connect veterans with USDA field offices and other resources, raising awareness about agricultural opportunities and support programs. These farmer first efforts aimed to equip veterans with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the agricultural sector. Changes/Problems:GreenSky Gives added to our project and element we called "Coffee and Conversations where we had reprsentatives from Veterans Affairs to come in and speak with our veterans. We considered it a more holistic approach that allowed us to reach our target audience in a less formal non-threatening way and to prepare for a seemlesstransition from that military career to the agriculture sector. Major Changes and Problems in Approach Changes in Approach Expansion of Geographic Coverage: Initially focused on Alabama, the project expanded to include Mississippi, Tennessee, and Florida to reach more veterans. Curriculum Adjustments: The curriculum was updated to include more hands-on training and field demonstrations based on feedback from participants. Problems Encountered Recruitment Challenges: There was initial difficulty in recruiting veterans due to lack of awareness about the program in certain geographical areas. Weather Conditions: Adverse weather conditions affected the scheduling of some field-based training sessions. Reasons for Changes Feedback from Participants: Adjustments were made based on feedback to better meet the needs of veterans. Increased Demand: Expansion was necessary to accommodate the growing number of veterans interested in the program. External Factors: Funding and weather-related issues required flexibility in the project's approach. These changes and problems highlight the project's adaptability and commitment to supporting veterans despite challenges. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The "Serving Those Who Served" project has provided several opportunities for training and professional development: Workshops and Seminars: Hosted multiple workshops and seminars to educate veterans on various agricultural practices and business development strategies. Field-Based Training: Conducted hands-on training sessions where veterans could engage in practical, real-world agricultural activities. Curriculum Development: Created a comprehensive curriculum that included new technologies, business planning, and financial management. Internships and Practicum Experiences: Offered internships and practicum opportunities to provide veterans with real-world experience and enhance their workforce readiness. Networking Events: Organized events to connect veterans with potential employers and mentors in the agricultural sector. These efforts aimed to equip veterans with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the agricultural industry and improve their economic health. Creation of IEDPs (Individual Employment Development Plans) and training in innovation through our iSTEM curriculum program where GreenSky focuses on conservation agriculture practices and innovation. We partnered with The Tennie Group and Agriculture Accounting and Agri-Business Firm which will assist us in providing financial development, risk management, and business planning workshops on a quarterly basis. This helped to prepareveterans in the proper preparation for owning and operating successful farm operations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of the "Serving Those Who Served" project have been disseminated to communities of interest through several methods: Community Outreach Events: Hosting events to share information and engage with veterans and community members. Workshops and Seminars: Providing educational sessions to disseminate knowledge and best practices in agriculture. Partnerships: Collaborating with local cooperatives and USDA representatives to extend the reach of the project. Networking: Organizing networking events to connect veterans with potential employers and mentors. Quarterly Performance Reports: Sharing progress reports and success stories with stakeholders and the broader community. We met quarterly with local USDA services centers, local government (mayors/city council), and military installation programs TAPs, Skill Bridge, farmer cooperatives, and local nonprofits to communicate the successes and challenges of our project. The community outreach events and evaluation data are collected and reported on our social media platforms and website.These efforts ensure that the project's findings and benefits are widely shared and accessible to those who can benefit from them. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Impact Statement: "Serving Those Who Served" within the last seven months we have hosted nine veteran outreach events for a total of 42 outreach events since program inception on Sept. 30, 2022, covering four states (AL, MS, TN, and FL) and across 16 counties. As of this performance report, GGI has provided outreach events bringing awareness to the programs and services USDA offers veterans to approximately 185veteran participants seeking to begin or expand their careers in agriculture. Forty-four veterans are enrolled in our program and are being provided technical assistance (i.e., farm business plans, financial report management, marketing, and FSA loans). GGI trained these producers on Eqip and CSP programs to get them EQIP eligible and ensure that our participants were able to receivedirect funding incentives.GGI's has reached more than 400students, our secondary target audience seeking careers in agriculture and conservation. We have had much success in Alabama and Mississippi and are gaining momentum in Tennessee and Florida. We have completed 44 Individual Employment Development Plans (IEDP) for our target audience to use as a guide to assist them as they pursue long-term placement in the food and agriculture industry. We are collaborating with veterans who own farms and ranches to provide mentorship guiding and training to veterans enrolled. We did not meet our job placement rate of 37 veterans. Seven veterans were placed in agriculture careers, three sought entrepreneurial opportunities and started their own farms, and several are continuing their hands-on learning working on their mentors farms. We created an education program curriculum for the veterans that consists of 24 training workshops, completed a benchmark evaluation report, and obtained 104 completed benchmark evaluations. We have facilitated 42 veteran community outreach events with a combined total of 296 veterans in attendance in outreach events over 31 months. Completed Milestones and expected Accomplishments and Deliverables (Completed, Ahead and On-track) Milestone 1: 42 community outreach events completed. Our milestone was 20; ahead of the set milestone. Milestone 2: 104 veteran benchmark assessments completed in 24 months Completed. Our milestone was 70. Milestone 3: 36 county community assessments and PSAs completed as a strategy to reach veterans and recruit to our project - Completed. Our milestone goal was 8. We exceeded our milestone goal. Milestone 4: Over 620 marketing materials disseminated across 26 counties. Completed Milestone 5: 44 veteran prescreens, and 125 student prescreens. 35 prescreens were projected -Completed. Milestone 6: 16 Individual Employment Development Plans (IEDPs) Completed. Ahead and on-going Milestone 7: 24 module iSTEM curriculum completed. Completed Progress Toward Objectives: deliverables met as of 04/16/25: Objective 1: Coordinate Outreach efforts to identify qualified veterans and students, and bring awareness of agriculture careers and USDA resources. January 9, 2025 Outreach Event - Macon County, AL Participants: 3 January 14, 2025 Outreach Event - Montgomery County, AL GreenSky continues collaborating with local NRCS representatives providing veterans information on EQIP and CSP programs as well as answering questions regarding land surveys and providing technical assistance with applications. Participants: 9 January 30, 2025 Outreach Event - Lowndes County, AL GreenSky, in partnership with the Lowndes County Cooperative Extension Office, hosted an outreach event in Lowndes County. Participants in this county were particularly concerned about issues concerning financing land. Participants: 8 February 14, 2025 Outreach Event - Hale County, AL GreenSky, in partnership with Hale County Cooperative Extension Office, and county NRCS reps hosted an outreach event to educate veterans on EQIP and CSP and discuss loans through FSA and commercial lending. Participants: 5 February 25, 2025 Non-ruralFarming Outreach Event - Montgomery County, AL GreenSky in collaboration with Fortitude Leadership Academy planted raised bed gardens in Montgomery encouraging healthy food options, and vertical farming all while discussing programs offered by USDA in Urban Farming. Participants: 7 February 27, 2025 Outreach Event - Bullock County, AL GreenSky, in partnership with the Bullock County Cooperative Extension Office, hosted an outreach event in Bullock County. Participants: 6 March 4, 2025 Outreach Event - Pike County, AL GreenSky, in partnership with the Pike County Cooperative Extension Office, hosted an outreach event in Pike County. Participants in this county were particularly concerned about issues concerning financing land. Participants: 13 March 6, 2025 Outreach Event - Butler County, AL GreenSky, in partnership with the Butler County Cooperative Extension Office, hosted an outreach event in Butler County. Participants: 6 The "Serving Those Who Served" project has made a significant positive impact on both veterans and society as a whole. Here's how: Benefits to Veterans Employment Opportunities: The project has helped seven veterans find stable jobs in the agricultural sector and three to pursue entrepreneurship in agriculture. providing them with a sense of purpose and financial stability. Skill Development: Through hands-on training and workshops, 44veterans have gained valuable skills in agriculture, business planning, and financial management. Community Support: Veterans have connected with mentors and peers, creating a supportive community that understands their unique challenges and helps them succeed. Benefits to Society Economic Growth: By supporting veteran entrepreneurship and employment, the project willcontributeto the economic health of rural communities. Agricultural Literacy: Increased awareness and knowledge about agriculture among veterans and community members have led to more sustainable farming practices. Community Collaboration: The project has fostered partnerships between veterans, local cooperatives, and USDA representatives, strengthening community ties and resources. 44 veterans were enrolled in the project since its inception. Seven veterans received job placement and three pursued their own farm businesses all making more than the minimum hourly wage for the state in which job was received. There is a signifigant increase in agriculture literacy. Overall, the "Serving Those Who Served" project has assisted veterans seeking to pursue careers in food and agriculturewhile also enhancing the economic and social well-being of the communities they serve. Veterans gained several specific skills from the "Serving Those Who Served" project: Agricultural Techniques: Learned modern farming practices, including organic farming, crop rotation, and sustainable agriculture. Business Planning: Acquired skills in business development, including creating business plans, marketing strategies, and financial management. Technical Assistance: Received training in the use of new agricultural technologies and equipment. Workforce Readiness: Developed skills necessary for employment in the agricultural sector, such as teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership. Entrepreneurship: Gained knowledge and support to start their own farms or agricultural businesses. Networking: Built connections with mentors, peers, and potential employers in the agricultural industry. These skills have preparedveterans to transition to civilian life and thrive in the agricultural sector.

Publications

Progress 09/30/23 to 09/29/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Our primary target audience for our project during this reporting period is military veterans (including service-disabled), defined as a person who has served in the active military, naval, or air service; who were discharged or released from the service under conditions other than dishonorable that are transitioning or have recently transitioned from the military pursuing a career in food and agricultureand that reside in our geographical service area of Alabama (Montgomery, Dallas, Lowndes, Pike, Macon, Autauga, Elmore, Butler, and Barbour counties), Mississippi (Winston, Oktibbeha, and Lee counties), Tennessee (Gibson County), and Florida (Marion County and Escambia counties). Our secondary target audience is students interested in careers in science, technology, and agriculture. GreenSky Gives is a CBO(community-based organization) staffed by60% veterans. That is what makes this project especially significant for GreenSky Gives. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Creation of IEDPs (Individual Employment Development Plans) and training in innovation through our iSTEM curriculum program where GreenSky focuses on climate-smart agriculture practices and innovation. We have partnered with The Tennie Group and Agriculture Accounting and Agri-Business Firm which will assist us in providing financial development, risk management, and business planning workshops on a quarterly basis beginning next year. This will assist veterans in proper record keeping and tax preparation. We have collaborated with Wallace State Community College to assist with virtual beginning farming classes. Providing veterans with solar and irrigation training, Farmer Bootcamp training, and attended ACE class, omestead on a Half Acre". How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We are consistently meeting quarterly with local USDA services centers, local government (mayors/city council), Veteran Affairs Service Centers, farmer cooperatives, and local nonprofits to communicate GGI's key learnings, program successes, and challenges of our project. The community outreach events are advertised on our social media platforms and website, and we send out quarterly newsletters to all participants. GreenSky Gives Inc. (GGI) remaining objectives to accomplish: Coordinating with American Job Centers, four career workshops with potential employers, and a summative report from 3rd party consultant and GGI. We are confident we will have completed all of our proposal objectives by Q2 2025.? What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we will collaborate with American Job Centers (career centers) and hosting networking events to place veterans in front of potential employers and mentor prospects.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Within the last twelve months we have hosted 21 veteran outreach events for a total of 33 outreach events since program inception on Sept. 30, 2022, covering four states (AL, MS, TN, and FL) and across 16 counties. As of this performance report, GGI has provided outreach events bringing awareness to the programs and services USDA offers veterans to approximately 140 veteran participants seeking to begin or expand their careers in agriculture. Forty-four veterans are enrolled in our program and are being provided technical assistance (i.e., farm business plans, financial report management, marketing, and FSA loans). GGI's has reached more than 350 students, our secondary target audience seeking careers in agriculture and conservation. We have had much success in Alabama and Mississippi and are gaining momentum in Tennessee and Florida. We have completed 44 Individual Employment Development Plans (IEDP) for our target audience to use as a guide to assist them as they pursue long-term placement in the food and agriculture industry. We will work on IEDPs ongoing throughout the life of the project and will encourage each veteran participant to complete an IEDP. We are collaborating with veterans who own farms and ranches to provide mentorship guiding and training to veterans enrolled. This will help as we seek to reach our job placement rate of 37 veterans. We seek to partner with Farmer cooperatives in each state the project covers. As we submit our second performance report, we are on track, ahead, or have completed our milestones. We created an education program curriculum for the veterans that consists of 24 training workshops, completed a benchmark evaluation report, and obtained 104 completed benchmark evaluations. We have facilitated 33 veteran community outreach events with a combined total of 206 veterans in attendance in outreach events over 24 months. GreenSky Gives through this project has been able to increase awareness in agriculture literacy in underserved communities' participation in USDA programs and services from veterans in socially disadvantaged groups, and an increase in agricultural literacy in the rural communities served by our project.This has been an exciting and fast pace last 24-month operation. In year two we expanded our reach into Tennessee and Florida. Over the last two years GreenSky Gives (GGI) has had the opportunity to collaborate with multiple veteran organizations (Director County Veteran Service Officers, Program Lead Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program, VFW Posts, American Legion, and non-profit veteran organizations) many in underserved communities in AL, MS, TN, and FL. GGI has had increased momentum as we have scheduled veteran outreach events and planned "Coffee and Connections" with farmers and ranchers that have prior veteran experience. We have learned a lot in the last 24 months regarding how to best serve veterans interested in entering or expanding their agriculture careers. Our focus has been to promote a smooth transition process for veterans transitioning from the military and looking to pursue agriculture careers, or to return to farming as many grew up on farms. Our strategy has been to increase marketing, specifically in rural underserved communities to bring awareness to the many programs and services provided to veterans by USDA.? Completed Milestones and expected Accomplishments and Deliverables (Completed, Ahead and On-track) Milestone 1: 33 community outreach events completed. Our milestone was 20; we are ahead of the set milestone. Completed Milestone 2: 104 veteran benchmark assessments completed in 24 months. Our milestone was 70. Completed Milestone 3: 36 county community assessments and PSAs completed as a strategy to reach veterans and recruit to our project. Our milestone goal was 8. We exceeded our milestone goal. Completed Milestone 4: Over 300 marketing materials disseminated across 10 counties. On-track and on-going Milestone 5: 44 veteran prescreens, and 125 student prescreens. 35 prescreens were projected. Ahead and on-going Milestone 6: 16 Individual Employment Development Plans (IEDPs) completed. Ahead and on-going Milestone 7: 24 module iSTEM curriculum completed. Completed Progress Toward Objectives: deliverables met as of 12/17/2024: Objective 1: Coordinate Outreach efforts to identify qualified veterans and students and bring awareness of agriculture careers and USDA resources. 33 outreach events achieved in year two of the grant. January 16, 2024 Outreach Event - Montgomery County, AL GreenSky, in collaboration with State NRCS and regional FSA representatives held a veterans community outreach event and facilitated our Equity in Action outreach event. Participants were educated on the available conservation programs and incentives through NRCS Environment Quality Incentive Planning (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and additional USDA resources such as eligibility requirements for FSA loans and loans for socially disadvantaged farmers, veteran farmer, ranchers, and landowners. Participants: 8 January 23, 2024 Equity Acquisition Survey Email Blast GreenSky Gives utilized our newsletter email blast, social media platform, and outreach events to gather information through surveys from farmers, ranchers, veterans and landowners in historically underserved communities to determine where they perceived a lack of inequity in agriculture with USDA. GGI repeatedly read in comments the biggest form of disparity in agriculture according to underserved / socially disadvantaged producers is in FSA lending practices and land ownership. Participants surveyed: 60 Feb 8, 2024 Outreach Event - Marengo County, AL, Participants: 11 February 29, 2024 Outreach Event - Crenshaw County, AL, Participants: 5 March 5, 2024 Outreach Event - Sumpter County, AL, Participants: 14 March 12, 2024 Urban Farming Outreach Event - Montgomery County, AL, Participants: 21 March 21, 2024 Outreach Event - Choctaw County, AL, Participants: 8 March 26, 2024 Outreach Event - Butler County, AL, Participants: 8 April 30, 2024 Outreach Event - Greene County, AL, Participants: 10 July 18, 2024 Outreach Event - Lee County, MS, Participants: 36 August 3, 2024 Outreach Event - Montgomery County, AL, Participants: 30 August 23, 2024 Outreach Event - Montgomery County, AL, Participants: 9 August 27, 2024 Outreach Event - Dale County, AL, Participants: 3 August 28, 2024 Outreach Event - Holmes County, MS, Participants: 25 October 18, 2024 Outreach Event - Gibson County, TN, Participants: 12 October 24, 2024 Outreach Event - Gibson County, TN, Participants: 6 December 16, 2024 Veteran "Coffee and Connection" - Escambia County, FL, Participants: 5 Objective 2: Provide comprehensive and immersive hands-on learning experiences and field demonstrations. GreenSky completed nine hands-on learning events. Total participants: 117 Objective 3: Offer a curriculum program that includes innovative technologies, business planning, and economic management. GreenSky staff created a program curriculum that consists of 24 learning modules year-1 of the project and have provided both virtual and in person training. As of this reporting period, We have facilitated 9 field-based hands-on immersive training in sustainable agriculture that is part of the curriculum to include solar and irrigation training. Participants: 111 Objective 4: Host workshops, seminars, and farm tours to connect veterans with local stakeholders, farmer cooperatives, and potential employers. Sept. 26, GGI collaborated with Wallace State Community College to provide virtual Beginning Farmer Training. Workshops and seminars have been mapped (to include business planning, marketing, risk management, agri-business, estate planning, farm taxes, etc.,) and collaborated with The Tennie Group agriculture accountants. On-track Objective 5: Provide program evaluation through 3rd party consultant. On Track

Publications

Progress 09/30/22 to 09/29/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Report Period Summary and Target Audience - Our primarytarget audience for our project is military veterans (including service-disabled), defined as a person who has served in the active military, naval, or air service; who were discharged or released from the service under conditions other than dishonorable that are transitioning or have recently transitioned from the military pursuing a career in food and agriculture, and that reside in our geographical service area of Alabama (Montgomery, Dallas, Lowndes, Pike, Macon, Autauga, Elmore, Butler, and Barbour counties), Mississippi Page 3 of 14 (Winston, Oktibbeha), Tennessee (Gibson County), and Florida (Marion County). Our secondary target audience is students interested in careers in science, technology, and agriculture. Being a community-based organization made up of 60% of retired veterans makes this project especially significant for GreenSky Gives. We are proud of this project and passionate about 'Serving Those Who Served'. Our greatest win has been our organization's increased relationships with local USDA representatives (NRCS, FSA) and veteran organizations. While this is a multi-state program (AL, MS, TN, and FL) covering 13 counties; according to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, our 13-county service area comprises 77,437 veterans.Efforts utilized to reach our target audience: Hands-on immersive field experience/demonstrations, workshops, extension and outreach, laboratory instruction/experiential learning, and financial and operational training to manage successful agriculture operations. We began this project by making great strides in our home state of Alabama working in predominantly rural economically and socially disadvantaged counties of Montgomery, Dallas, Lowndes, Pike, Macon, Autauga, Elmore, Butler, and Barbour counties. Our target audience is historically underserved veterans interested in a career in food or agriculture. We have the backing of two of the oldest HBCUs and two farmer cooperatives comprised of minority farmers and ranchers, including retired veterans, and the support of our local cooperative extension service and local community stakeholders. This pilot program is different in that it incorporates a holistic veteran approach to include "wrap-around" support services. While veteran employment is the key focus, addressing all issues that present barriers to that employment is essential. We want the veterans and key stakeholders to have a voice in the design and implementation of this project; we do not want to duplicate efforts provided by USDA in our target areas but instead, work with USDA service centers to expand outreach activities. GreenSky Gives has coordinated with the five military bases in Alabama as well as veteran organizations as we plan outreach and recruitment events to reach veterans interested in pursuing a career in food and agriculture in the counties we service. GreenSky is collaborating with USDA service centers, the Dept. of VA's outreach coordinator, TAPS, and Skill Bridge to reach veterans. Our over-arching goal is to support military veteransand the economic health of rural communities in our service area. We believe agricultural productivity and literacy are the right tools to help achieve this goal.Our work matters to these veterans and is important to reintegrate service members transitioning from the military or who have recently transitioned into meaningful employment in the food and agricultural sector. We also plan to have veterans connect to the community and help overcome the barriers (i.e., career, finances, navigating VA services ) they face when separating from the military. Although veterans go into many fields after their military service, many have transitioned into agricultural work. 13% of farmers in Alabama have military service compared to 11% of farmers in the United States. Changes/Problems: We have no major changes to our project. We do utilize a holistic community approach to assisting our target audiences. GreenSky Gives continues to be a "change agent" in the communities we serve by being a part of the solution helping transitioning veterans navigate their way in food and agriculture careers and helping increase agriculture literacy with students in underserved communities. Our program has increased outreach and educational opportunities for underserved and diverse communities and is assisting in the increase of equity in USDA Programs and services. In that effort, we have collaborated with third-party ambassadors such as mayors, city council members, and clergy as we continue to focus on underserved populations. Our project has the full support of key partners and collaborators as well as early involvement and support from community business leaders and key resource providers. Involving key leaders from the public and private sectors ensures we have the buy-in and active support needed to implement our project plan. GreenSky Gives is pleased with the deliverables we have achieved to this point. We have exceeded our milestone goals YTD in outreach events and training, and we are more than on track to receive the number of veterans and students enrolled in our project. We are confident that our partnerships and community collaborations will help ensure we successfully meet our goals. 13% of farmers in Alabama have military service compared to 11% of farmers in the United States. With this statistic and the collaborations and partnerships between GreenSky, military installations, VA, and local USDA representatives, we are confident that we will meet our goals and deliverables. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Creation of IEDPs (Individual Employment Development Plans) and training in innovation through our iSTEM curriculum program where GreenSky focuses on climate-smart agriculture practices and innovation. We have partnered with The Tennie Group and Agriculture Accounting and Agri-Business Firm which will assist us in providing financial development, risk management, and business planning workshops on a quarterly basis beginning next year. This will assist veterans in the proper preparation for owning and operating successful farm operations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We are consistently meeting quarterly with local USDA services centers, local government (mayors/city council), and military installation programs TAPs, Skill Bridge, farmer cooperatives, and local nonprofits to communicate the successes and challenges of our project. The community outreach events and evaluation data are collected and reported on our social media platforms and website. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we will begin community outreach events and training in the remaining three states (MS, TN, and FL) as well as continue our classroom training and non-formal hands-on field training. We will host networking events to place veterans in front of potential employers and mentor prospects.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? We are ahead or on track with all YTD milestones (see below). In the last 11 months, we have organized 12 community outreach events to reach our primary target audience (veterans) and our secondary target audience (students interested in science, technology, and agriculture careers). During that time, we met with 60 veterans and more than 250 students. We have enrolled 44 veterans in our project and some 60 students in our project entitled: Serving Those Who Served. GreenSky Gives is confident we will meet our project goal of a minimum of 75 veterans over a 3-year project period as we still have three remaining states (MS, TN, and FL) to provide outreach and recruitment in. We have had much success in Alabama and expect to have the same success in the remaining states. We have completed 16 Individual Employment Development Plans (IEDP) for our target audience to use as a guide to assist them as they pursue long-term placement in the food and agriculture industry. We will work on IEDPs ongoing throughout the life of the project and will encourage each veteran participant to complete an IEDP. We are collaborating with East Alabama Black Belt Cooperative in the state of Alabama to provide mentorship guiding and training to veterans enrolled. This will help as we seek to reach our job placement rate of 37 veterans. We will partner with Farmer cooperatives in each state the project covers. Under our goals for the first performance report, we are on track with milestones having been met. We created an education program curriculum for the veterans that consists of 24 training workshops, completed a benchmark evaluation report, and obtained 16 completed benchmark evaluations from our veterans, we have completed 44 veteran prescreens and facilitated 12 community outreach events with a combined total of 145 in attendance. GreenSky Gives through this project has been able to increase awareness in agriculture literacy in underserved communities' participation in USDA programs and services from veterans in socially disadvantaged groups, and an increase in agricultural literacy in the rural communities served by our project. Completed Milestones and expected Accomplishments and Deliverables (All On-track) Milestone 1: 12 community outreach events completed. Our milestone was 10; we are ahead of the set milestone. Ahead Milestone 2: 36 veteran benchmark assessments completed. Our milestone was 35. Ahead Milestone 3: 8 county community assessments and PSAs completed as a strategy to reach veterans and recruit to our project. Our milestone goal was 4. We exceeded our milestone goal. Ahead Milestone 4: Over 300 marketing materials disseminated across 10 counties. On-track Milestone 5: 44 veteran prescreens, and 60 student prescreens. 35 prescreens were projected. Ahead Milestone 6: 16 Individual Employment Development Plans (IEDPs) completed. Ahead Milestone 7: 24 module iSTEM curriculum completed. Ahead Progress Toward Objectives: deliverables met as of 09/29/2023: Objective 1: Coordinate Outreach efforts to identify qualified veterans and students, and bring awareness of agriculture careers and USDA resources. January 13, 2023 Outreach Event - Macon County, AL GreenSky, in collaboration with State NRCS and regional FSA representatives, Tuskegee University, and Tuskegee VA facilitated our Equity in Action outreach event. Participants were educated on the available conservation programs and incentives through NRCS Environment Quality Incentive Planning (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and additional USDA resources such as eligibility requirements for FSA loans and loans for socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and landowners. Participants: 35 January 25, 2023 Outreach Survey Event GreenSky Gives took surveys from farmers, ranchers, and landowners in historically underserved communities to determine where they perceived a lack of inequity in agriculture with USDA. With 44 surveys received, repeatedly we read in comments the biggest form of disparity in agriculture according to veterans is in FSA lending practices and land ownership. Participants: 46 January 31, 2023 Outreach Event - Montgomery County, AL GreenSky continues collaborating with local NRCS representatives providing veterans information on EQUIP and CSP programs as well as answering questions regarding land surveys and providing technical assistance with applications. Participants: 9 March 14, 2023 Outreach Event - Lowndes County, AL GreenSky, in partnership with the Lowndes County Cooperative Extension Office, hosted an outreach event in Lowndes County. Participants in this county were particularly concerned about issues concerning financing land. Participants: 18 April 11, 2023 Outreach Event - Hale County, AL GreenSky, in partnership with Hale County Cooperative Extension Office, and county NRCS reps hosted an outreach event to educate veterans on EQIP and CSP and discuss loans through FSA and commercial lending. Participants: 14 May 11, 2023 Urban Farming Outreach Event - Montgomery County, AL GreenSky in collaboration with Fortitude Leadership Academy planted raised bed gardens in Montgomery encouraging healthy food options, and vertical farming all while discussing programs offered by USDA in Urban Farming. Participants: 12 June 10, 2023 Outreach Event - Bullock County, AL GreenSky, in partnership with the Bullock County Cooperative Extension Office, hosted an outreach event in Bullock County. Participants: 8 June 24, 2023 Outreach Event - Pike County, AL GreenSky, in partnership with the Pike County Cooperative Extension Office, hosted an outreach event in Pike County. Participants in this county were particularly concerned about issues concerning financing land. Participants: 30 July 17, 2023 Outreach Event - Butler County, AL GreenSky, in partnership with the Butler County Cooperative Extension Office, hosted an outreach event in Butler County. Participants: 6 July 29, 2023 Outreach Event - Dallas County, AL GreenSky, in partnership with the Dallas County Cooperative Extension Office, hosted an outreach event in Dallas County. Participants: 9 August 2, 2023 Outreach Event - Elmore County, AL GreenSky, in partnership with the Elmore County Cooperative Extension Office, hosted an outreach event in Elmore County. Participants: 20 August 8, 2023 Outreach Event - Bullock County, AL GreenSky, in partnership with the Bullock County Cooperative Extension Office, hosted an outreach event in Bullock County. Participants: 15 Objective 2: Provide comprehensive and immersive hands-on learning experiences and field demonstrations. May 27, 2023 Field Training - Elmore County, AL Participants: 10 June 12, 2023 Field Training - Lowndes County, AL Participants: 3 June 26, 2023 Field Training - Barbour County, AL Participants: 14 June 12, 2023 Field Training - Lowndes County, AL Participants: 3 Objective 3: Offer a curriculum program that includes innovative technologies, business planning, and economic management. Withinthis reporting period, GreenSky staff created a program curriculum that consists of 24 learning modules and an iSTEM curriculum. We have facilitated 6 field-based hands-on immersive training in sustainable agriculture. Participants: 30 Objective 4: Host workshops, seminars, and farm tours to connect veterans with local stakeholders, farmer cooperatives, and potential employers. Workshops and seminars have been mapped (to include business planning, marketing, risk management, agri-business, estate planning, farm taxes, etc.,) and collaborated with The Tennie Group agriculture accountants. (in-progress) Objective 5: Provide program evaluation through 3rd party consultant. The first progress report evaluation has been completed and signed off on by 3rd party program evaluator/consultant. GreenSky has exceeded its milestone goals in outreach events and training and on track to meet all delivery goals.

Publications