HAPI has received a grant from The Human Services Research and Technology Institute. The grant is being used to move forward a number of initiatives within the HAPI project, including the prototype of the vertical growing unit designed by the HAPI engineering team. Other HAPI efforts advancing through the grant include providing ongoing hydroponics projects in Tennessee-based K‑12 classrooms with open source monitoring and control systems, and the construction of a wall-mounted herb garden and “hot” grow section in the HAPI-Columbus prototyping facility.
“This funding comes at a critical time for us.” said HAPI founder Tyler Reed. “We’re using this grant to advance our initiatives and increase the visibility of our efforts in anticipation of the launch of our upcoming KickStarter campaign.”
Keith Morehouse, a senior analyst with HSRTI, stated that “HAPI represents innovative options to bringing local production of healthy food to individuals and communities. We are very excited about the HAPI vision and the concepts that are being worked on.”
Human Services Research and Technology Institute (HSRTI) is a not-for-profit (501(c)(3)) Institute formed in 2004. The vision of the Institute is to “Promote innovations in health and human service through collaborations of research and technology”. HSRTI operates from a collaborative membership model.