Washington Agriculture Grants

This grant provides financial support to schools and early learning services in Washington state for purchasing and preparing nutritious, locally sourced foods to improve children's meal programs and promote healthy eating habits.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, tribal entities, and public agencies in Washington State working to alleviate food insecurity and improve access to nutritious food for residents.

This program provides funding to municipalities, park districts, tribes, and nonprofits in Pierce County to preserve open spaces and enhance community recreational areas.

This grant provides funding to organizations and event planners for innovative projects that attract visitors to Snohomish, particularly those that encourage overnight stays and boost the local economy during the off-season.

This program provides $1,000 grants to BIPOC small business owners in the Fourth Plain Corridor to help them purchase essential equipment that improves their operations and supports long-term growth.

This funding opportunity supports tourism-related projects and events in Cowlitz County, Washington, aimed at attracting visitors and enhancing the local hospitality experience.

This grant provides $10,000 to individual artists in Washington State to support their creative work, with a focus on promoting equity among diverse artists.

This grant provides funding to non-profit organizations and public agencies that promote tourism and boost economic activity in Oak Harbor, Washington.

The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) is offering a Starter Fund Grant Program, ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, for small community organizations and groups focusing on advancing an equitable and sustainable local food system within Seattle, with eligible activities including food justice initiatives, community organizing, food-related job training, and more.

Snohomish County is accepting applications for the 2024 Snohomish County Conservation Futures Program (SCCFP) Grants. Donor Name: Snohomish County State: Washington County: Snohomish County (WA) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/16/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Snohomish County Conservation Futures Program (the “SCCFP”) was started in 1988 as a mechanism for distributing Conservation Futures Property Tax Funds for the preservation of open space land, farm and agricultural land, and timberland. The purpose of the SCCFP is to acquire interests or rights in real property for the preservation of open space land, farm and agricultural land, and timberland per SCC 4.14.010. A maximum amount of $10,000,000 million dollars may be available for distribution in 2024 for these purposes. Eligible Projects  For proposals to be eligible for consideration and funding, they should conform to the criteria listed below: Snohomish County Conservation Futures Program funding can only be used for the acquisition of real property, easements, covenants, or other contractual rights necessary to protect, preserve, maintain, improve, restore, limit the future use of, or otherwise conserve, selected open space land, farm and agricultural land, and timberland as defined in Chapter RCW 84.34 (“Protected Property”). Other sources of revenue may be used to improve properties acquired with Conservation Futures Program funds, provided the improvements are within the intent of the statute. Proposed acquisitions in urban areas shall be no smaller than 1 acre minimum in an urban area retained in its natural state and open to the public (RCW 84.34.020). Any improvements to the Protected Property shall be limited to those which meet the requirements and intent of RCW 84.34.200-220.  Allowed improvements include, but are not limited to, trails, interpretive centers, viewpoints, picnicking facilities, access, restrooms, and restoration projects.  Certain recreational improvements are prohibited.  Such improvements include, but are not limited to, ball fields, use by motorized vehicles, swimming pools and recreation centers. Project Eligibility Guidelines  All projects will be reviewed to assure that they fall under eligibility guidelines meeting the following criteria: Does the property fall within the definitions of open space, farm and agricultural land, or timberland as defined in RCW 84.34.020? Does the sponsoring agency have a guaranteed plan or program to manage and maintain the property to preserve those characteristics that make the property eligible for Conservation Futures Program funding? Does the proposed project secure property rights in perpetuity, which meet the intents of RCW 84.34.200? Is the proposed property free of any and all encumbrances (e.g. covenants, conditions and restrictions that prohibit public access), which would result in the acquisition not aligning with the intents of RCW 84.34.200? For more information, visit Snohomish County.

The Washington State Department of COMMERCE, hereafter called “COMMERCE,” is initiating this Request for Applications (RFA) to fund clean energy projects in Washington through a combination of funding sources. Donor Name: Washington State Department of Commerce State: Washington County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/14/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Commerce is now accepting applications to support the planning, design, and construction of clean energy projects through a general round which is open to all eligible project types and applicants. Approximately $34 million will be available in the general round to support the following project areas: Electric grid modernization and innovation Innovative large-scale and dual-use solar Solar energy retrofits for public buildings Clean energy project siting and permitting Building, industry, aviation and maritime Decarbonization Clean energy projects that leverage private and federal funding. Project Categories  Large scale solar innovation Planning or a construction project. Planning project must lead to a capital asset. Solar array(s) must have alternating current (AC) nameplate capacity of more than 100 kW at a single site or more than 1 MW across multiple sites Cannot displace critical habitat or productive farmland Dual-use solar Planning or a construction project Must involve commercial, dual-use solar power demonstration Hard to decarbonize and economic development Planning or a construction project. Planning project must lead to a capital asset. Project must achieve one or more of the following goals: Reduce emissions in hard-to-decarbonize sector Bring private investment and federal funding to the state Grid integration and innovation Planning or a construction project Must develop and demonstrate distributed energy resources and non-wire alternatives Must be for electrical grid integration and innovation projects Must do at least one of the following: Support implementation of demand response Improve integration of renewable energy and energy storage Advance community resilience Support implementation of sustainable microgrids Accelerate beneficial load integration and demand management for at least one of the following: Building electrification Equipment electrification Electric vehicle charging Clean energy siting and permitting Planning projects only Must support siting and permitting of clean energy projects through at least one of the following methods: Support pre-development work at sites for clean energy projects Support land use studies Conduct or engage in planning efforts such as planned actions and programmatic environmental impact statements (EIS) Improve permit timeliness and certainty with staff, expertise or databases Solar installations on existing public buildings Construction projects only Must purchase and install solar PV only at an existing public building (must have a certificate of occupancy prior to application). Funding Information The minimum award amount is $50,000, and the maximum award amount for a single award is $3,000,000. Eligibility Criteria  Unless the Applicant is a federally recognized tribe, applicants must be licensed to do business in the State of Washington or submit a statement of commitment that it will become licensed in Washington within thirty (30) calendar days of being selected as an Apparently Successful Contractor. Applicants must be in good standing with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and requirements, including with the Department of Commerce. Applicants must be one of the following entities (please note, not all entities are eligible for all project categories. Associate development organization Federally recognized tribal government For-profit entity Investor-owned, co-operative, or public retail electric utility K-12 school district Local government Non-profit organization Private educational institution or public higher education institution Other academic or research institution State agency Tribes’ contracted service providers. For more information, visit WSDC.

The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program provides funding for a broad range of land conservation efforts, from conserving natural areas near big cities to protecting the most pristine and unique collections of plants in the state, including some of last remaining plant species in the world. Donor Name: Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office State: Washington County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program was envisioned as a way for the state to accomplish two goals: acquire valuable recreation and habitat lands before they were lost to other uses and develop recreation areas for a growing population. This landmark legislation passed in 1990 and the grant program’s continued funding have come about through the support of governors, the Legislature, and groups such as the many organizations comprising the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition. Funding Information Critical Habitat: None Natural Areas: None Riparian Protection: Minimum request of $25,000, no cap. State Lands Restoration and Enhancement: Minimum request of $25,000. Maximum request of $1 million for a single-site project and $500,000 for a multi-site project. Urban Wildlife Habitat: None. Eligible Projects Land Acquisition Acquisition includes the purchase of perpetual interest in real property or non-perpetual interests such as leases and easements. Acquisition of non-perpetual interests must be for at least 50 years and may not be revocable at will. Incidental costs related to acquisition are eligible. The Riparian Protection Category provides funds for acquisition of lease extensions under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which must be for a minimum of 25 years. Development Benches, tables Interpretive kiosks, signs Paths, roads, parking Restrooms Viewing shelters The Critical Habitat, State Lands Restoration and Enhancement, and Urban Wildlife Habitat Categories also allow for habitat creation and enhancement. The Riparian Protection Category allows for site stewardship plans. Restoration and Enhancement Animal watering stations Ecological restoration Estuary and shoreline restoration Fencing, gates,and signs In-stream habitat such as bank stabilization, channel reconfiguration, and woody materials placement In-stream passage improvements Habitat enhancement such as native plantings and invasive plant removal Removal of structures like bulkheads, dikes, levees, tide gates, and impervious surfaces Site augmentation to establish restoration elements Transplanting and re-vegetation Upland stewardship. Who May Apply? Critical Habitat, Riparian Protection, and Urban Wildlife Habitat Categories Cities, counties, towns Federally recognized Indian tribes Nonprofit nature conservancies Special purpose districts, port districts, or other political subdivisions of the state that provide services to less than the entire state State agencies (Department of Enterprise Services, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission) Natural Areas Category Nonprofit nature conservancies State agencies (Department of Enterprise Services, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission) State Lands Restoration and Enhancement Category State agencies (Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission). For more information, visit WSRCO.

The Farmland Preservation Grant program provides funding to buy development rights on farmlands to ensure they remain available for farming in the future. Donor Name: Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office State: Washington County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Grant recipients also may use some of the funding to restore natural functions to improve the land’s viability for farming. The program is part of the larger Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, which was created in 1990 to buy land for outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation, to keep pace with a growing population. In 2005, the state Legislature expanded the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program to include preservation of significant farmland. Typical Projects Buying a conservation easement on farmland threatened with development. Funding Information No grant limits, except for the following: Enhancement and restoration elements may not exceed more than half of the total acquisition costs, including match toward acquisition. Farm stewardship plans may not exceed $10,000. Eligible Projects Land acquisition through easements and leases (required for all projects). Public access is not required. Enhancement or restoration, such as installing fences to keep livestock out of streams, replanting riverbanks, restoring historic water runoff patterns, improving irrigation, and installing solar well pumps. These activities must further the ecological functions of the farmland. Combination of land acquisition and either restoration or enhancement Stewardship plans. Who May Apply? Cities Counties Nonprofit nature conservancy corporations or associations State Conservation Commission. Ineligible Projects Acquisition of rights for less than 25 years, of land already owned by the government, or of property acquired via a condemnation Consumable supplies such as fuel, fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides, except as a one-time application in an otherwise eligible restoration activity Elements that cannot be defined as fixtures or capital items Environmental cleanup of illegal activities, such as meth labs Indoor facilities Organizational operating expenses or overhead Purchase of maintenance equipment, tools, or supplies Restoration work done before a grant agreement is signed Transfer of development rights. For more information, visit WSRCO.

The Burien Neighborhood Grants Program supports Burien community members who want to improve the quality of life in Burien. Donor Name: City of Burien State: Washington City: Burien Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Through this program, the City of Burien will provide up to $5,000 of City funding per project which the applicant group matches with local resources of volunteer labor, donated materials, donated professional services, or funds. The goal of the Burien Neighborhood Grants Program is to encourage projects that foster a sense of community and create community improvements for the benefit of all Burien residents. Project Criteria The city fund an array of projects that create community improvements such as: Tree planting – installation of trees and understory plants in community or public space Tree maintenance – watering, mulching, removal of noxious plant species around existing trees Physical improvements – minor park improvements, trailhead enhancement, bus shelter Environmental or sustainability project – composting program, community garden Public amenity—historical marker, bench Community-based public events—such as education events or celebrations to bring neighbors together It encourages people of all ages to apply, including youth groups, neighborhood groups, and informal groups of neighbors. Eligibility Criteria To be eligible, projects must: Be in the city of Burien Include participation from two or more individuals from separate households living within the city limits of Burien Provide a public benefit to the community Have demonstrated neighborhood support in the area Have approval from all adjacent property owners Involve neighborhood residents directly in all phases Have goals that can be accomplished by the end of 2023 Be designed for low maintenance or neighborhood volunteers Be located on publicly accessed property (such as community organizations, public rights-of-way, or parks) Be free and open to all members of the public All projects will be required to have a Neighborhood For more information, visit City of Burien.