Purpose:
The purpose of the Champion Local Microgrant: QAFM is to contribute financially to making on-farm, at-market, and kitchen improvements to increase production, capacity, and/or expand vendor market offerings for QAFM customers.
Rules Summary:
Microgrant funding must support the purchase, lease, improvement, or construction of equipment and facilities for handling (including slaughter), aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, distribution, marketing, or sale of Washington-grown, caught, processed, and/or raised food for sale at local farmers markets.
Applicant Eligibility:
Microgrant Applications are only available to current or past-season Queen Anne Farmers Market vendors planning to participate in the upcoming QAFM market season
Vendors are limited to one microgrant award every 3 years.
Microgrants are reserved for the purpose of producing QAFM guideline-qualifying goods.
The total microgrant budget in 2026 is $4,000
QAFM may award up to 4 microgrants in 2026.
Microgrants are intended to increase capacity, infrastructure, or diversity of products that vendors bring to QAFM.
For questions or to request a paper application, contact Matt Kelly: director@qafm.org
Eligible Project Costs Include:
Food processing equipment.
Food storage and distribution equipment.
Vehicles or trailers for market operations.
Technology or software improvements.
Food safety improvements.
Worker safety improvements.
Employee trainings.
Business, financial, or feasibility planning for post-harvest and local market access/supply chain activities.
Marketing or brand development that improves market access or visible presence in markets.
Minor facility improvements that make equipment usable. For example, electrical outlets, sink pumping, or floor resurfacing.
Major facility improvements that involve any ground disturbance, new utility services or structural work. For example, grading/excavation, concrete, septic systems, or framing.
Pre-harvest or harvest expenses excluding labor (for example, greenhouses, tractors, row covers, irrigation equipment, soil amendments, seed, feed, or other agricultural inputs).
Livestock purchases
Ineligible Project Costs Include:
Food, ingredients
Labor-related expense for production, pre-harvest, harvest sales, and/or marketing.
Ongoing operating costs.
Interest fees associated with loans or debt.
Land or real estate acquisition.
Costs incurred and/or payments made before the application date.
Expenses that have been or will be reimbursed under any other federal, state, private, or local government funding.
Expenses that have been or will be reimbursed by insurance.
Illegal activity under federal, state, or local law or regulation.
2026 Timeline:
Applications Close March 6, 2026
Micogrant application status notification March 11, 2026
Public announcement of Microgrant Recipients on/by April 25, 2026
Required Reporting:
Microgrant recipients must also complete a Project Outcomes Report within one year after their microgrant end date, including a narrative description of how funding was used and will benefit QAFM shoppers, paid receipts/invoices totaling or exceeding the microgrant award and a minimum of 5 photos of the project.
QAFM may conduct a site visit at any time during the Microgrant Agreement and will provide a ten-day notice. To the extent possible, all site visits will be scheduled on mutually acceptable dates.
Additional Resources:
