The San Juan County Economic Development Council was awarded a $30,000 Rural Opportunity Fund Grant from the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED).

This grant was awarded to fund feasibility studies of possible sites for the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild’s Permanent Farmers Market project that will be located on San Juan Island. This grant is supported by a matching contribution from the Northwest Agriculture Business Center who will be providing technical consulting for the project.

In support of local county agriculture, the Economic Development Council has had a permanent location for the San Juan Island Farmers Market on its work plan for well over a year. With the creation of the non-profit Ag Guild, the project has made sufficient progress and is ready to perform specific Site Feasibility Studies of possible locations.

The award of this grant will enable these studies to be conducted, including preliminary architectural plans and structural engineering analysis. The Ag Guild’s board members represent the San Juan Farmers Market Association, the Orcas Farmers Market, the San Juan County Agricultural Resources Committee, the Economic Development Council, the Island Grown Farmers Cooperative, the San Juan County Fair, Skagit Valley College, Port of Friday Harbor, the Washington State University Extension – San Juan County, and the Northwest Agriculture Business Center.

The grant assists rural communities and tribal governments with strategic planning and pre-construction activities that support local economic development. The grants are acquired by working with CTED’s regional services offices.