OGC Mission Fund Awards Ten Grants in January

Amy Frye & Jacob Slosberg, Boldly Grown

OGC is excited to share that ten more Mission Fund grants were awarded to Northwest-based nonprofits and small businesses earlier this year. This second round of funding gave additional consideration to applications that caught the committee's attention during our December 2020 grant cycle, the first round of funding.

Our latest grant recipients are listed below with a very brief introduction. Learn how OGC’s support will give their hard work a boost in the year ahead.

Boldly Grown, a certified organic family-run farm in the Skagit Valley and OGC supplier is realizing their dream of land-ownership after years of working acreage leased from the nonprofit Viva Farms. Owned and operated by farmers Amy Frye and Josh Slosberg, Boldly Grown has earned a loyal following among wholesale buyers and Seattle area CSA subscribers drawn to their beautiful, certified organic fall and winter vegetables. An OGC Mission Fund grant will boost their investment and vision of farm ownership and an expanded operation, including a farm store to feed their rural community.

Central Co-Op is a women-led grocery co-op serving Seattle and Tacoma. The Capitol Hill neighborhood store team is ready to invest in infrastructure upgrades and a grant from the OGC Mission Fund will help offset those significant expenses. Central Co-Op is an outstanding, mission-aligned business doing its part to address the systemic issues of food scarcity and instability in Seattle and Tacoma.

Community Food Co-Op’s Farm Fund works to strengthen local, sustainable and organic agriculture and support the Bellingham-area farming community. The Farm Fund also educates consumers, increases access to local food, and encourages ecological and socially responsible stewardship of Whatcom County farmland. The demands on the Farm Fund continue to exceed the program’s resources, as farmers face new and ongoing challenges related to sytemic barriers facing Latinx and Mixtec farmers, the impacts of COVID-19, climate change, and land stewardship. OGC’s investment in the Farm Fund will support their on-the-ground work to build a healthy, sustainable food system.

Co-op Market Grocery & Deli Alaska’s first food co-op and the only Alaska co-op with a physical store, is owned and supported by 4,600 residents of Fairbanks. The co-op has set goals to increase outreach to its low-income, elderly, and minority neighbors and increase diversity in every aspect of the store. A grant from the OGC Mission Fund will support hiring a part-time community outreach worker to engage directly with those in need and tailor their existing and new programs informed by insights and desires.

Cultivate Oregon is a women-led nonprofit of Earth Island Institute, focused on regenerative agriculture, building seed and food system resiliency, and rewarding farmers to build healthy soil. An OGC Mission Fund investment will support their carbon sequestration and incentive program for Oregon farmers, ranchers, and land managers. Cultivate Oregon is working to overcome barriers to the carbon marketplace, including education, assistance and mentoring.

Food Access and Aggregation Community Team (FAACT) comprises community-based businesses and organizations addressing food inequities in South King County, Washington. FAACT is planning a site called Horseneck Farm with a specific focus on connecting BIPOC, immigrant, refugee, and low-income farmers to communities with resources. Horseneck will feature farmland, infrastructure, and community space accessible to food access organizations, small-scale farmers, buyers, and eaters in South King County. An OGC Mission Fund grant will support the first cohort of farmers on the land at Horseneck Farm, where they’ll work to grow food for their families and communities.

Kitsap Community Food Co-Op, a longtime resource to Bremerton, Washington, wants to upgrade and expand their produce sales infrastructure, focusing on areas that present operational risk. An OGC Mission Fund grant will give them access to capital to support vital upgrades.

Klamath Farmers Online Marketplace (KFOM) is an online farmers market that connects community members to local food producers year-round. Klamath County has struggled with food insecurity, unemployment, and obesity rates. Although the economy has been slowly gaining momentum, last summer was difficult due to the pandemic and wildfires. Created by farmers, KFOM is a 100% volunteer-run organization. With the support of an OGC Mission Fund grant, they will hire a professional to assist with marketing and educational materials that spread the word about KFOM, reach diverse food cultures and people of all backgrounds, ages, education, and income levels. Communications will increase access and meet people where they are in a meaningful way.

Willamette Farm and Food Coalition (WFFC) is a nonprofit that has served Lane County for over 40 years, facilitating and supporting the development of secure, sustainable, and inclusive food systems. WFFC’s Double Up Food Bucks Program is a nutrition incentive program that encourages shoppers to purchase more fresh and local produce when using SNAP benefits at participating farmers markets in Lane County. Customers can swipe their card and receive a match up to $10 in “food bucks.” An OGC Mission Fund grant will support this program, which increases the purchasing power of low-income community members.

Working Theory Farm works with youth in the justice system to grow food for partner organizations that distribute this food to families in need. Through growing vegetables and raising livestock on their certified organic farm, Working Theory provides jobs for at-risk youth and teaches them personal and social responsibility and professional skills. With OGC’s support through the Mission Fund, youth at Working Theory Farm will expand their production of healthy leafy greens for Centro and Meals on Wheels.

Keep an eye on OGC’s blog and social media channels for information about future grant cycles.