2025 Jefferson County Food System Resilience Small Grants Program

The 2025 Jefferson County Food System Resilience Small Grants Program supported small-scale producers in strengthening infrastructure, improving soil health, expanding production capacity, and increasing food access for low-income communities across the county. Recipients included: Paper Kite Farm, Rolling R Farm & Ranch, SoCliff Farm, Sprout City Farms, and Ekar Farm.

Across projects, a consistent theme emerged: strategic, right-sized investments in infrastructure and soil health significantly increase productivity, operational efficiency, and long-term resilience for small and first-generation farmers.

Grant funds supported:

• Regenerative soil-building practices and fertigation systems

• On-farm pack shed construction to improve efficiency and food safety

• Commercial poultry processing equipment enabling on-site protein production

• Direct food distribution to low-income households and food pantry partners

• Training and education for future land stewards

Several projects highlighted challenges including degraded soil conditions, delayed planting, family emergencies, equipment production delays, and unexpected shipping costs. Despite these challenges, all grantees demonstrated meaningful progress toward production and distribution goals.

Collectively, the program strengthened regenerative land stewardship, supported beginning and first-generation farmers, and increased the availability of locally grown food and protein for Jefferson County residents.