Grant Applications NOW OPEN!
The purpose of the Local Food System Infrastructure Grant program is to support local food supply chains and market access for Washington farms, ranches, food processors, and food distributors. The grant funds projects that expand and strengthen collaboration across linkages in regional food supply chains in Washington. This includes equipment and facilities for post-harvest handling (including slaughter), aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, distribution, or sale of Washington grown, caught, and raised food.
Investments that strengthen linkages along the food supply chain create new opportunities for farms and food businesses to market Washington grown foods to people in Washington. Expanding market access allows farms and food businesses to remain engines for innovation, growth, and sustainability in Washington’s vibrant local food economy.
Grant Categories and Timelines
There are two grant categories with different project priorities, funding amounts, and timelines. Applicants can only apply for one grant category.
Both grant categories:
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Are reimbursement style grants, which means grant recipients pay for project costs with their own funds and are paid back after goods/services have been received. Reimbursement requests can take up to 30 days to be paid. Applicants should factor reimbursement processing time into their overall project timeline.
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Do not require matching funds
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Will not reopen until 2027
TWO GRANT CATEGORIES |
Equipment Plus |
Large Project |
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OVERVIEW |
Equipment purchases that address a specific local food system infrastructure gap or barrier to local market access for a Washington farm, ranch, or food business. May include minor facility improvements that make equipment useable, such as electrical outlets, sink installation, or floor resurfacing. |
Facility projects that improve local food supply chains and local market access for many Washington farms, ranches, food processors, or food distributors. May include major facility improvements, such as ground disturbance, new utility services, or structural work. |
PROJECT
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Choose between two shorter project timelines:
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One longer project timeline: Large Project expenditures must occur between March 2026 and June 30, 2027. |
FUNDING
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Minimum of $15,000 and up to $75,000 maximum
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Minimum of $200,000, and up to $750,000 maximum $2,250,000 available, funding roughly 4 Large Projects |
APPLICATION
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Full application
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Concept proposal
Full application (invite only)
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Start Here: Grant Information
Grant Guidelines, including entity/project eligibility, application and award timelines, and evaluation criteria:
Support with your application
Please review the following recorded info sessions before submitting your application:
➤ Grant Applicant Resources Overview (Recording)
➤ Equipment Plus
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Equipment Plus Grant Overview (Recording)
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Grant Portal walk-through
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Evalulation criteria overview
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➤ Large Project
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Large Project Concept Proposal Overview (Recording)
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Grant Portal walk-through
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Evaluation criteria overview
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Large Project Full Application Overview (Recording) - coming November 2025
After reviewing the overview recordings and grant guidelines, if you still have questions, please join WSDA Local Food Supply Chain Specialists for one of the following live Q&A office hours:
➤ Q&A’s: Equipment Plus & Large Project Concept Proposals
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Wednesday, August 20, 8-9 a.m. Sign up here for registration *Spanish Interpretation Included
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Thursday, August 28, 4-5 p.m. Sign up here for registration
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Tuesday September 2, 6-7 p.m. Sign up here for registration
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Wednesday, September 3, 10-11 a.m. Sign up here for registration
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Monday, September 8, 12-1 p.m. Sign up here for registration *Spanish Interpretation Included
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Sunday, September 14, 4-5 p.m. Sign up here for registration
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Friday, September 19, 12-1 p.m. Sign up here for registration
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Tuesday, September 23, 8-9 a.m. Sign up here for registration *Spanish Interpretation Included
➤ Q&A’s: Equipment Plus Only
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Thursday, October 2, 3-4 p.m. Sign up here for registration
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Saturday, October 11, 10-11 a.m. Sign up here for registration *Spanish Interpretation Included
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Wednesday, October 15, 5-6 p.m. Sign up here for registration
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Friday, October 24, 12-1 p.m. Sign up here for registration
➤ Q&A’s: Large Project Full Application Only (phase 2)
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Monday, November 3, 12-1 p.m. Sign up coming soon
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Monday, December 1, 12-1 p.m. Sign up coming soon
Access Business Planning Resources
Looking for business planning resources and support? The Regional Markets Program offers information, resources, training and technical assistance, and regulatory guidance to farms, food businesses and local buyers of Washington agricultural products.
