Grower Grants
Each year, Flagstaff Foodlink supports local farmers in expanding and enhancing their operations through the Grower Grant Program. We created the Grower Grant Program to fill gaps that we see in traditional funding sources for small-scale food producers.
Join us virtually on December 7th from 5:30-6:30 PM to explore opportunities and insights for local farmers. Discover how the Grower Grant Program supports small-scale food producers in Coconino and Navajo Counties. Grant will open on December 1st, 2023. Learn about eligibility, project examples, and how to make a meaningful impact on local food systems. Register for the workshop to secure your spot. For more information, email us at grow@flagstafffoodlink.com. This workshop is made possible thanks to funding from the Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff. Click here to RSVP (to receive Zoom link).
To learn about past recipients, read our Grower Grants report.
For reference, take a look at this Grower Grant Example Application.
Grant proposals for the 2024 cycle will open December 1-31st, 2023. Applicants will be informed by mid-February 2024. If you have any questions about your eligibility or the grant itself, please email us at grow@flagstafffoodlink.com
Who can apply for a grant?
Applicants must be either 1) small-scale food producers who plan to market/trade their produce to the wider public (e.g. farmers, ranchers, herders, wildcrafters/gatherers), or 2) initiatives working with local food growers to expand food production (e.g. small seed companies, co-op kitchens, butchers, etc.). Applicants should be located in Coconino County or Navajo County and projects must fall within the scope of the Grower Grant program.
We continue to strive to better support local Indigenous food producers in addition to non-Indigenous growers in the region. Flagstaff is located at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, a place held sacred by thirteen Native nations in the region. We live, work, eat, and grow food on Indigenous land. Indigenous food production and food sovereignty are vital parts of a just and resilient regional food system.
Grantees that have received funding for two consecutive grant cycles will be ineligible to apply the following year and will be invited to participate in grant review.
What types of projects qualify?
High priorities include food-related projects that help increase or enhance:
local skills, knowledge, and capacity
the production and availability of locally produced foods (especially artisanal, wildcrafted, heirloom, high desert or sustainably produced)
the demand for locally-produced foods
regional and cultural food traditions
Please contact us directly before you fill out a complete application if you want to find out if an idea might fit.
For home gardeners and education-focused school projects, the Coconino Master Gardener Association’s Garden Grants and the City of Flagstaff Neighborhood Sustainability Grants may be better funding sources for your project.
What are some specific examples?
See our Grower Grant Example Application.
Funding to enhance your farm or operation that enhances sustainability, such as projects to address water, energy efficiency, transition to certified naturally grown, organic, or biodynamic (including initial certification costs), or invest in equipment or supplies that will enhance your operation and opportunities.
Funding to support agricultural biodiversity, including the purchase of seeds and equipment related to producing a crop or breed of livestock, especially if it is:
an open-pollinated/heirloom variety,
a food important to the cultural traditions of native or immigrant communities on the Colorado Plateau, or
a local food crop or tradition at risk.
on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy watch list
While we must be careful stewards of our limited funding, we don’t mean for this to be a burdensome process. If you have any questions or need help, contact us at flagstafffoodlink@gmail.com.
When are applications due?
At this point, grants are awarded once a year. Applications for 2024 grants will open in the fall of 2023. A selection committee will then review applications. The Flagstaff Foodlink Board of Directors votes on final grant decisions after considering the committee recommendations. Applicants will be notified by late winter.
How much funding can I request?
The maximum grant request is $1,000 and most awards are in the $500-$1,000 range. We strongly encourage you to seek matching funds from other private, government and/or foundation sources. This grant can be used as a match, too. The grants are competitive and due to funding constraints, we can only support a few of the many worthy projects that are submitted.
How will proposals be evaluated?
The Flagstaff Foodlink Board will score each proposal with a weighted matrix that considers the perceived effectiveness of the approach (5 points), the capacity for impacting the local food system (5 points), and the transferability of the project to other growers in the region (5 points).
JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE 2023 GROWER GRANT AWARDEES!
Just Cultivate Coalition
Restore the garden beds and greenhouse at Sechrist Elementary school and plant heirloom, climate-appropriate seeds which were cultivated among the Indigenous and African diaspora (e.g., Hopi Red Amaranth, lambs-quarter, saltbush, a variety of beans and squash, rooibos tea, watermelon, collard greens, kale, beets, and basil) Educate the community on the advantages of growing these crops, as they have health benefits, are fast-growing, and are drought-tolerant.
Engage in educational workshops at the beginning of the season, and host a harvest workshop/celebration at the end of the season for students, their families, other growers, and the Flagstaff community at large.
Lily of the Field
Improve the health and sustainability of current plant production by: 1. Setting up an automatic rainwater drip irrigation system for 1-5 gallon plants in Upper Greenlaw by implementing a water pump with a newly procured 2500 gal. water storage tank. 2. Move an existing water tank to the west side of the building to increase the water catchment to ~500 gal. In total, reliance on groundwater should be cut to 25-50% or less for all operations depending on annual rainfall totals.
Hold two rainwater catchment tours sharing the low water drip system, the farms’ first in-town hydroponic system, as well as the components of the rainwater catchment system.
Three Sisters Bean Field Collaborative Project
Establish a small market farm focused on the local production of dry beans. The project will utilize an approximately one-acre, Indigenous family-owned plot of land in the Doney Park area. The project will begin by constructing a perimeter compost fence and installing a drip system layout. Approximately ¼-⅓ of the land will be cultivated in the first year.
Organize 3 volunteer workdays to clear the site of weeds and build a compost fence, as well as host a Fall Harvest Open House at the farm.
Two Hands Homestead/Summit STAR Farm
Expand and preserve the Black Australorp chicken flock, an ideal fit for the high-elevation Flagstaff climate, by purchasing an additional coop and 15 new birds. Provide pastured, local eggs both online and at the farmer's market as well as offer chicks in the future to share the breed with the Flagstaff community.
Host an event for the public covering chicken keeping, breeding, and the role chickens play in regenerative agriculture, among other topics, and partner with local schools to be a field trip location and educational resource for students.
If you have questions, please contact us at grow@flagstafffoodlink.com.