Shape Lorain’s Food Future: Apply Now for the Urban Agriculture Design Workshop

Lorain is reimagining its food system — and you can be part of designing it. On Saturday, September 13, 2025, Food Forward Lorain (FFL) a joint project of the City of Lorain, Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio and Lorain County Public Health along with TSW Design Group, and Agritecture are bringing together bold thinkers, problem-solvers, and local changemakers for the Lorain Urban Agriculture Design Workshop.

This is your chance to roll up your sleeves, collaborate with industry experts, and create actionable designs for real sites that could transform Lorain’s food future. Whether you’re a grower, architect, entrepreneur, student, or simply passionate about food and community, we want your ideas at the table.

A Day to Turn Ideas into Action

Hosted at Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio, this full-day challenge will bring together diverse teams to reimagine real sites in Lorain with the potential to boost local food production, create jobs, and strengthen community connections. Each team will be given a unique site profile to inspire their design — ranging from neighborhood-based agriculture to high-tech production facilities and innovative mixed-use spaces.

With guidance from Agritecture’s global experts and 6 months of free Agritecture Designer Pro access, you’ll model your concept’s economics, crop production, and community impact — then pitch your vision to the public and a panel of judges.

Previous Agritecture Designer Workshop

Public Finale at Lorain Brewing Co.

In the evening, we’ll head to Lorain Brewing Co for the grand finale. Teams will present their designs, judges will deliberate, and winners will be announced — all while the community cheers you on.

A Global Track Record of Impact

The Lorain Urban Agriculture Design Workshop builds on Agritecture’s proven model, which has been hosted in more than 15 cities around the world to spark innovation in local food systems.

From New York City, where community leaders reimagined underused rooftops for productive green spaces, to Boston, where participants developed viable business plans for year-round greenhouses in cold climates, each workshop blends local context with global best practices.

Internationally, Agritecture has run design workshops in Dubai, Amsterdam, and Durban, bringing together farmers, architects, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to co-create solutions tailored to their unique environments.

These events have:

• Produced actionable farm designs that went on to secure funding or move into pilot phases.
• Built new partnerships between community groups, private investors, and local governments.
• Introduced hundreds of participants to the tools and methods needed to design farms that are both profitable and sustainable.

Now, it’s Lorain’s turn to join this network of cities shaping the future of food.

Previous Agritecture Designer Workshop

Key Details

Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Time: 8:30 am – 8:00 pm
Locations:

• Day sessions (application and acceptance required) – Second Harvest, 5510 Baumhart Rd., Lorain, OH 44053
  
  
• Evening presentations starting at 6pm - 8pm  (open to public) – Lorain Brewing Co. 500 Shipyard Wy, Lorain, OH 44052, USA

How to Apply

• Applications Close: August 31, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET
• Notifications: Rolling basis until spots are filled (space is limited — apply early!)
  

Spread the Word

Know someone who should be part of this? Share this announcement with friends, colleagues, or anyone passionate about growing Lorain’s future. Post it on your social media. Forward it to your networks. The more diverse the talent, the bigger the impact.