In 2024, the KCD Regional Food System Program awarded over $400,000 in grants to support projects that contribute to the economic viability of local farms, encourage new farmers, expand acreage in food production, improve food access and increase demand for King County farm products.
By making investments in our local food systems, we can improve access to affordable, local foods and boost our rural economy. The array of projects funded in 2024 includes projects that support indigenous and immigrant growers, increase assistance for low-income residents to purchase local produce, and promote farmland access for future farmers.
In 2023, KCD underwent a third party evaluation of the Regional Food System Grant Process. Findings and recommendations can be found here. Findings from the evaluation were incorporated into the 2024 grant cycle including:
- Streamlining performance measures to track project impacts
- Removing requirements for applicants to provide matching funds
- Continuing to offer multi-year funding
- Providing flexibility on timelines and scopes of work
- Offering proposal development assistance
- Removing quarterly reporting to lower grantee reporting burden
| Applicant Name | Project Name | Grant Request |
|---|---|---|
| African Community Housing & Development (ACHD) | SeaTac Farmers Market | $40,000 |
| Feed Seven Generations | Enhancing and Supporting Native and Indigenous Foods Systems in WA | $40,000 |
| Georgetown Healthy Food Coalition (Georgetown Health Food Coalition) | Georgetown Food Hub Planning | $22,880 |
| Global to Local Health Initiative | Increasing Food Access Through Heart Bucks | $40,000 |
| International Rescue Committee (IRC) |
A Stronger Regional Food System through Refugee, Immigrant, and BIPOC Farmers | $40,000 |
| PNW BIPOC Farmland Trust Islander Health (Pacific Islander Health Board) | Protecting Farmland Access for BIPOC Farmers in King County | $40,000 |
| Rainier Valley Food Bank | Education, Support, and Community Building through Rainier Valley Food Bank’s Commercial Kitchen | $40,000 |
| Seattle Good Business Network | Good Food Connections 2025 | $40,000 |
| Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust | Expanding Matsuda Farm Production for Farm-to-School Program and Food Access Partnership | $40,000 |
| Villa Comunitaria | Salsa De La Vida- Farm | $40,000 |
| White Center Food Bank | Purchasing and Distributing Culturally Relevant Foods from Local BIPOC Farms | $40,000 |
| Total: | $422,880 | |
Regional Food System Grant Program
African Community Housing & Development (ACHD)
SeaTac Farmers Market – $40,000
ACHD uses a community-centric farmers market model to promote food access and economic opportunity for African immigrant/refugee communities in King County. The SeaTac Farmers Market’s unique programs support small farmers and increase food access.
Feed Seven Generations
Enhancing and Supporting Native and Indigenous Foods Systems in WA – $40,000
FEED project efforts will strengthen Native Food Systems in King County by assisting Native producers and businesses, developing infrastructure and capacity, link and expand market, provide training, and encourage climate smart conservation practices to minimize negative environmental impacts.
Georgetown Healthy Food Coalition
Georgetown Food Hub Planning – $22,880
The all-volunteer Georgetown Healthy Food Initiative will host four workshops to plan the future food hub in Georgetown’s Bend Live/Work District. The goal is to ensure the plan meets community needs, is culturally relevant, and supports resilient, equitable food systems in the Duwamish Valley.
Global to Local Health Initiative
Increasing Food Access Through Heart Bucks – $40,000
This project supports Heart Bucks, Tukwila Village Farmers Market’s own food security incentive. Heart Bucks support sales of produce grown locally by vendors who participate at the market and eliminate community’s barriers to accessing nutritious and culturally-relevant fruits and vegetables.
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
A Stronger Regional Food System through Refugee, Immigrant, and BIPOC Farmers – $40,000
IRC in Seattle will improve access to local food, support farmland access, and boost farm productivity with refugee, immigrant, and BIPOC farmers in South King County through training, technical assistance, and provision of resources such as season extension equipment, compost, and farm tools.
PNW BIPOC Farmland Trust
Protecting Farmland Access for BIPOC Farmers in King County – $40,000
This project will protect access to King County farmland and promote the financial viability of farms owned and operated by Black, Indigenous, and farmers of color by building a culturally responsive, scalable farmland trust model.
Rainier Valley Food Bank
Education, Support, and Community Building through Rainier Valley Food Bank’s Commercial Kitchen – $40,000
Rainier Valley Food Bank will enhance health, well-being, and community building through our newly constructed commercial kitchen. The space will be available for community events, cooking demonstrations, classes, food industry workforce development, and community and youth-led programs.
Seattle Good Business Network
Good Food Connections 2025 – $40,000
Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust
Expanding Matsuda Farm Production for Farm-to-School Program and Food Access Partnership – $40,000
Matsuda Farm is a non-profit social enterprise owned and operated by the Vashon Land Trust. We are the only on-Island wholesale grower of specialty crops. We propose to expand our growing area at Matsuda Farm by 4,000 bed feet in service of our farm-to-school program and the Food Access Partnership.
Villa Comunitaria
Salsa De La Vida Farm – $40,000
We are seeking funds to support the growing, harvesting and distribution of culturally based food to the Latine community in South King County, and to improve the infrastructure of the current plots at Marra Farm by upgrading irrigation and building a new green house or hoop house/s on site.
White Center Food Bank
Purchasing and Distributing Culturally Relevant Foods from Local BIPOC Farms – $40,000
Grant will be used to purchase fresh produce to distribute to food insecure customers from White Center, Highline, West Seattle, South Park, and surrounding areas. We will purchase from King County immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC-owned farms from April to October annually.
Senior Project Manager, Regional Food Systems Program
425-529-4801
Mary coordinates the KCD Regional Food System Program, including Strategic Initiatives and Food System Grants, with the goals of making an enduring contribution toward strengthening King County’s food economy.