POSTED: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

Community Food Co-op receives grant for farm fund

The Community Food Co-op's Farm Fund is the recipient of a $12,000 matching grant from the Sustainable Whatcom Fund of the Whatcom Community Foundation.

Paired with donations from shoppers, the Farm Fund will be able to direct $18,000 to the creation of a new revolving loan fund for local farms committed to using sustainable practices.

"The revolving loan fund has the potential to help local farmers meet their infrastructure needs, diversify products, increase environmental practices, fill gaps in the local food supply and create new markets," said Co-op General Manager Jim Ashby.

The revolving loan program is designed to provide short-term, low interest financing to farmers and food producers who may not be able to secure a loan elsewhere.

"It's particularly exciting given that in the current economic environment access to capital is extraordinarily challenging for all business sectors," said Foundation CEO Mauri Ingram.

The Farm Fund will also direct $6,000 in grants to projects that build the market for local farms, encourage ecological and socially responsible stewardship of farmland and increase community access to, and awareness of, healthy, local food. To apply by the deadline of Friday, Feb. 5 contact Jean Rogers at the Community Food Co-op at 734-8158 ext. 217. Grant and loan decisions will be announced by March 1, 2010, and funds will be released by March 15.