Local Food System Infrastructure Grant (LFSI)

WSDA competitive grant supporting local food supply chains and market access for Washington farms, ranches, food processors, and food distributors. Funds equipment and facilities for post-harvest handling/processing (including slaughter), storage/distribution, and marketing/retail of Washington-grown, -caught, and -raised foods. The 2025 round offered two categories: 'Equipment Plus' (up to $75,000) and 'Large Project' (up to $750,000). Not currently accepting applications; WSDA anticipates the next round to open Summer/Fall 2027.

• Small and mid-size owner-operated farms or ranches in Washington that sell some portion of their product in Washington.

• Farms and ranches must have less than $1 million in annual gross cash farm income in 2024.

• A farm is owner-operated when the majority of the farm business is owned by the people involved in its day-to-day on-farm operation.

• Small and mid-size food businesses whose primary function is to aggregate, process, manufacture, distribute, store, or sell Washington grown, caught, or raised foods in Washington.

• Food businesses must have fewer than 100 employees, counting parent company and subsidiaries.

• Non-profit, tribal, or local government entities that directly enable small and mid-size owner-operated farms, ranches, or food businesses to sell Washington foods to people in Washington.

• Applicants must be an existing farm, business, or nonprofit licensed to do business in Washington with a UBI number.

• The applicant must be a single entity that signs the grant agreement; sub-awards and pass-through funding are not allowed.

• No matching funds are required.

Two categories in the most recent (2025) round, both reimbursement grants with no match required.

"Equipment Plus" grant category — "Minimum of $15,000 and up to $75,000 maximum."

"Large Project" grant category — "Minimum of $200,000, and up to $750,000 maximum."

Both sets of guidelines state: "There is no requirement for matching funds." Payment is after the fact: "This 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."

Round funding in 2025: Equipment Plus "Timeline A: $2,800,000 available, funding roughly 50 projects" and "Timeline B: $1,200,000 available, funding roughly 20 projects"; Large Project "$2,250,000 available, funding roughly 4 Large Projects." Size limit on applicants: "Small and mid-size farms must have less than $1 million in annual gross cash farm income in 2024." Post-award condition: "WSDA may conduct a site visit at any time during the grant agreement period and up to three years after the end of the grant and will provide three-day notice."

All figures above are from the 2025 guidelines. WSDA is not currently accepting applications and anticipates the next round in Summer/Fall 2027 — amounts may change.

Applications are submitted during open rounds via WSDA's Local Food System Infrastructure Grant page; sign up for the program newsletter for round announcements. Next round anticipated Summer/Fall 2027.