FARM Fund Microloans
Food, Agriculture, Relationships, Markets
Micro Loans for San Juan County Farmers
The San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild’s FARM Fund will offer zero percent interest loans to San Juan County farmers..
The FARM Fund is committed to pursuing innovative ways to bring nutritious food to all islanders’ tables while also promoting the economic growth and viability of San Juan County farmers. Repayment of the loan will be in-kind food donated or sold at greatly reduced rates to food banks, senior and youth food programs, and other food access programs during the grant cycle after contract is signed at 10% of the value of the loan.
Loan applications can be up to $2,500 and will be considered in a competitive process with no application fee. Funding may support completing a project, purchasing new equipment, building new infrastructure, or cover operating costs like compost and hiring additional farm labor. Applicants must have a minimum of two years commercial growing experience. Farms who have received a FARM Fund award and have not handed in a final report are not eligible for this funding.
To inquire about a microloan or to aks any questions, please email farmfund@sjiagguild.com.
BACKGROUND
The FARM (Food, Agriculture, Relationships, Markets) Fund was created in 2015 to support innovative projects that strengthen and develop local, sustainable agriculture in San Juan County and increase availability of healthy, local food.
The FARM Fund will work with community partners to identify gaps in San Juan County’s food system and provide critical capital to farmers, distributors and producers in order to meet those needs.
This grant process supports building the capacity of San Juan County’s farms to make more local food available to our communities.
The FARM Fund Grant Committee is committed to the principles of good grant-making,due diligence, and applying an equitable and transparent process. Loans are only made for projects that are well-conceived and likely to be successful in meeting the above stated goals. Loans are only made for projects that are able to begin immediately and that will positively impact the current growing season.