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This article was originally published by ABC News Channel 20 by Emily Jordan on February 11, 2025
SPRINGFIELD, Ill (WICS) — Federal budget cuts are forcing some central Illinois agricultural centers to close.
Although President Trump’s move to freeze all federal funding was blocked by a federal judge, farmers still report losing money.
Motherland Community Gardens is a non-profit that provides food for Springfield residents and beyond since 2020. Now, the organization is being forced to downsize.
“The idea behind Motherland is how can you solve many problems from one location. So it’s like a giant puzzle,” Doumen said.
Founder Yves Doumen said one piece of that puzzle was to fight food insecurity in areas with limited access to affordable, healthy food options.
“The project kind of had a component of producing and giving it to people, but there’s another component of training. Because you know, we usually say it’s better to teach someone to fish than to give them fish,” Doumen said.
Motherland Community Gardens has a garden located on South 15th Street. Doumen said all of their funding—between 50,000 and 70,000—from the U.S Department of Agriculture has been put on hold.
Doumen said two projects in Macon County and Christian County are being put on an indefinite pause.
“So those funding are really necessary for the farmer to be able run their operations–their farm operations efficiently. And for us here in central Illinois, it is a hit. It’s a terrible hit. Y’know, it’s like being kicked out of the car in the middle of the highway. And doesn’t know where to go,” Doumen said.
Doumen said there’s a high demand for their services in Springfield.
He’s hoping the garden can lean on state and community resources to stay open.
“As an organization, we cannot just shut the door and throw the key away when we have funding taken away from us. But instead, we’re working on a resilience plan to be able to provide minimal services to the community,” Doumen said.
Doumen says Motherland Community Gardens feeds about 2,500 people a year.
The funding would’ve allowed the organization to build a greenhouse.
Doumen said he’s hoping grants on the state level won’t be impacted.
NewsChannel20 reached out to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. We’re still waiting on a response.