Key Takeaways
- NY Sun Works received $49,931 from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to build a Hydroponic Classroom at Lincoln High School in Yonkers.
- The funding supports classroom construction, teacher training, and implementation of NY Sun Works’ year-round sustainability science curriculum.
- The project marks NY Sun Works’ first partner school in the City of Yonkers, serving 400 students annually.
- The initiative is funded through New York State’s Urban Farms and Community Gardens Grant Program, supporting community food resiliency and fresh food access.
- School and state leaders emphasized the project’s role in education, climate literacy, and expanding access to fresh produce for students and families.
NY Sun Works Receives Grant to Launch Hydroponic Classroom in Yonkers
NY Sun Works Secures Funding for New Educational Grow Space
NY Sun Works Executive Director Manuela Zamora announced that the organization has received a $49,931 grant from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The funding will support the design and construction of a new Hydroponic Classroom at Lincoln High School in Yonkers, providing students with hands-on sustainability education through seed-to-harvest hydroponic farming.
The grant also funds teacher training and adoption of NY Sun Works’ year-round, standards-aligned curriculum. This project represents NY Sun Works’ first partnership within the City of Yonkers, expanding its network of Hydroponic Classrooms across New York State.
Hands-On Sustainability Science for 400 Students Annually
The Hydroponic Classroom is expected to be operational and ready for planting by January. Once launched, it will serve approximately 400 students each year, offering experiential learning opportunities in climate science, food systems, plant biology, and sustainability.
“We thank the NY State Department of Agriculture and Markets for recognizing the role of classroom-based hydroponic farming in expanding fresh food access for students, families, and the school community,” said Zamora. She noted that Hydroponic Classrooms not only produce fresh produce but also strengthen student engagement and civic awareness.
School Leadership Highlights Educational Impact
Lincoln High School Principal Ian M. Sherman celebrated the development, stating that the project will significantly enhance science education and benefit the broader school community. “We are grateful to NY Sun Works and to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets for giving our students the best-in-class climate science education while bolstering access to fresh produce,” he said.
State Funding Supports Community Food Resilience
The grant is part of New York State’s Urban Farms and Community Gardens Grant Program, designed to expand community growing spaces and improve local food security. Funding was included in the state’s Fiscal Year 2025 and 2026 budgets as part of broader efforts to improve affordability and access to fresh foods.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball emphasized the program’s importance: “We are proud to support growing spaces like NY Sun Works’ Hydroponic Classroom at Lincoln High School in Yonkers, which are helping to meet the needs of our communities, contributing to a strong, reliable food supply, and educating young people about agriculture.”
