ServiceNet Wins $250,000 State Grant for New Northfield Farm
Job Coach Rachel Tucker feeds the goats at ServiceNet’s Prospect Meadow Farm.
ServiceNet has been awarded a $250,000 state grant to support the development of its new farm in Northfield, where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities will have opportunities to earn a paycheck while building skills for work and greater independence.
The funding, awarded through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development’s Social Enterprise Capital Grant Program, will help ServiceNet renovate and improve the Northfield property.
“Work is about so much more than earning a paycheck,” said Shawn Robinson, ServiceNet’s vice president of vocational services. “It’s an opportunity to discover what you’re good at, develop new skills, build confidence, and be part of a community. This grant will help us create a place in Northfield where the people we serve can do all those things while gaining meaningful, hands-on work experience.”
At the farm, participants will take part in growing and harvesting crops as well as preparing agricultural and food products for sale. Along the way, they’ll gain practical experience and develop skills that can translate to jobs in agriculture, food production, and other fields.
The $250,000 grant will support renovations and improvements to the farm’s facilities and infrastructure, helping ServiceNet prepare the property for its new role as both a working farm and a place for employment and vocational training.
“Farm work offers something rare: a direct line between effort and outcome,” Head Farmer Lucas Valentine said. “You plant, you nurture, you harvest, and then you watch people enjoy food you grew with your own hands. It ties us to the land, to health, and to community in a way that’s tangible and deeply meaningful. This grant allows us to welcome more people into that process, where they can build practical skills and take genuine pride in what they produce.”
The Social Enterprise Capital Grant Program provides funding to nonprofit organizations that create paid employment opportunities and supportive services for people who face significant barriers to employment. Workforce development is a central component of the organizations and programs receiving funding.
Student volunteers from UMass helped begin the setup for the new Northfield farm at a Sept. 19 event. At left in gray shirt is Head Farmer Lucas Valentine, with Senior Farm Hand Scott Kingsley at far right in black.
ServiceNet was one of four organizations statewide selected in the latest round of funding, which totaled $1 million. Since the program began, Massachusetts has awarded more than $8 million through Social Enterprise Capital Grants.
The Northfield farm will build on ServiceNet’s longstanding commitment to creating meaningful employment for people with disabilities and helping workers develop the skills, experience, and confidence to pursue their goals at work and in their communities.
ServiceNet’s programs for people living with challenges include community-based support, training, and job placement for people with disabilities. To learn more, visit https://www.servicenet.org/services/vocational-services/ or call 413-247-0361.
