2026 Farm Fund Flood Response Grant

Community Food Co-op’s Farm Fund is accepting applications for its grant program. The Farm Fund offers grants to strengthen the market for organic and sustainable agriculture in Whatcom County; encourage ecological and socially responsible farmland stewardship; support resilient, successful farms; and increase access to healthy food grown, raised, or processed by local producers.

Deadline for submissions: February 8, 2026.

Due to immediate need, the Farm Fund Committee may review applications sooner, as time allows.

Farm Fund Flood Response Grant and Funding Priorities

Due to the recent major flooding event, we are directing the Farm Fund grant to support the cleanup, stabilization, and rebuilding efforts of local farms. The Farm Fund grant cycle will distribute a limited number of grants up to $5,000 for projects that address emergency flood response, flood recovery, and related immediate farm needs. This might include farm infrastructure, repairing irrigation systems, replacing damaged equipment, and funding to offset lost crops, seeds, and sales.

Funding in 2026 will primarily address immediate flood relief projects. The Farm Fund Committee will also consider flood risk reduction/farm resilience projects and projects that address other farm needs (depending on the amount of donations we receive).

Qualifications

Applicants must:

Be a farm business, or farm business support organization
Address the priorities listed above
Supply Whatcom County markets and communities, or support Whatcom County farms as part of their program

Examples of Previous Grant Projects

Equipment, materials, bins, expansion of sales channels, handwashing or sanitation stations, market or farm expansion, etc. Click here for more information about the Farm Fund and previously funded projects. Projects that give farmers tools to improve their work and business versus annual operating expenses will be prioritized.

Equity

The Farm Fund Committee is committed to serving farmers who face systemic barriers. Projects that address systematic and socioeconomic barriers — projects led by or that emphasize working with marginalized farmers, BIPOC, women, English as a learning language, members of the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, veterans, new beginning farmers, and new markets — will be prioritized during the application review.

Application Submission

Applications can be completed online or emailed to [email protected]. You can also mail or hand deliver your application to Community Food Co-op, 405 E. Holly St., Bellingham, WA 98225, attn. Farm Fund. Information brochures or photos can be attached or sent to the Co-op.

If you have questions, please reach out to us. Contact the Farm Fund Administrator at [email protected] or 360-734-8158, ext. 317. We look forward to your application!

Farm Fund Flood Response Grant Application

Deadline for submissions: February 8, 2026.

Due to immediate need, the Farm Fund Committee may review applications sooner, as time allows. Consider February 8 the final deadline for submission.

Farm Information

Farm name:(Required)

Contact person(s):(Required)

First Last

Name on check (if other than company name):(Required)

Mailing address:(Required)

Street adress City State Postal code

Farm address:(Required)

Same as previous

Street adress City State Postal code

Phone:(Required)

Email:(Required)

Website or social media profiles:

How many acres are in production?(Required)

Are they certified organic, growing organic and not certified, or transitioning to organic? (For information only, not a grant requirement):

Number of years in operation:(Required)

How many years of farming experience do you have?(Required)

How does the food you grow impact your community?(Required)

Do you sell to the Community Food Co-op? If yes, please describe which crops/products:

Do you sell through the Puget Sound Food Hub, Twin Sisters Market, or another aggregation and sales organization? If yes, please describe:

Financial Information

Total farm sales for 2024:(Required)

Total farm expenses for 2024:(Required)

Total grant income for 2024:(Required)

Total farm sales for 2025:(Required)

Total farm expenses for 2025:(Required)

Total grant income for 2025:(Required)

Percentage of your household income that comes from farming:(Required)

Is there anything else you would like to tell us that would provide financial context for your business? (Optional):

Proposal Information

Title of your project:(Required)

Briefly describe your farm, including your mission statement (if applicable): (Appx. 50 words)(Required)

Describe how the recent storm events impacted your farm:(Required)

Brief description of how this funding will be used: (Appx. 50 words)(Required)

Describe how your project addresses one or more of the Farm Fund’s 2026 priorities: immediate flood relief and farm stabilization, flood risk reduction/farm resilience projects, and projects that address other farm needs: (Appx. 200 words)(Required)

How would a Farm Fund grant help support your farm in 2026? Be as specific as possible: (Appx. 300 words)(Required)

Category of damage(Required)

Please select one:

Project Budget

Funding amount requested:(Required)

Estimated total project budget (including dollars requested):(Required)

Additional funding sources (if any):

Please list a reference or two:

Reference 1 – name

Reference 1 – phone

Reference 1 – email

Reference 2 – name

Reference 2 – phone

Reference 2 – email

Optional Photo Attachment

Photos documenting flood damage and impact are not necessary but are encouraged.

File

Drop files here or

Accepted file types: jpg, png, jpeg, Max. file size: 8 MB, Max. files: 4.

Full name(Required)

Date(Required)