We are a partnership of nine organizations, including community development financial institutions (CDFIs), business assistance organizations, and place-based agencies, funded by the Healthy Food Financing Initiative Partnership Program grant. Our vision is for all communities in the Pacific Northwest to have access to healthy food, which our Partnership will support by providing low interest loans, planning grants, and technical assistance to food businesses and retailers in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon.

Join us for an info-session to learn more about funding opportunities through the Pacific Northwest Resilient Food System Partnership and how eligible businesses can apply.

Washington Info Session | Watch the recording | RSVP for Feb. 2, 2026 at 10A PST info & question session

Oregon Info Session | Watch the recording

Alaska Info Session | Tuesday January 13th at 11A AST | RSVP here

Inside the cold storage facility at Redd West. Photo credit: Shawn Linehan

Kelp harvesting. Photo credit: Emilie Chen

Technical Assistance Available

Technical assistance (TA) is available to help organizations and businesses improve access to healthy, affordable food in underserved communities. Through our partners—Prosper Portland, Spruce Root, and the Northwest Agriculture Business Center—we offer a range of support, including 1:1 business counseling, project planning, and financial readiness. Whether you’re launching a new initiative or expanding an existing effort, TA can help you strengthen your approach and address challenges at every stage.

If you are interested in technical assistance or would like to learn more about how it can support your project, please see the partner list below for more information.

Grants and Financing Available

Eligible Food Businesses and Retailers can apply for one or both of the grants and loans the Partnership offers. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For details on how to apply, see the Apply section below.

Planning Grants

These grants are to support business viability and enable access to financing down the road. Grants can be used to pay for costs associated with project planning including but not limited to feasibility studies, legal and financial consulting, business planning, and design and architecture services. 15 to 35 grants are available, depending on the size of awards. Award requests may range from $20,000 to $50,000. Grant funded projects must be completed by June 2027.

Low Interest Loans with Grants

This offering is to support business viability and enable accessible and affordable financing. This offering is only available to borrowers seeking financing and supports businesses in meeting CDFI equity requirements or as gap financing. Loans with accompanying grants can be used for a variety of purposes including but not limited to, purchasing inventory or supplies, operational costs including rent, utilities, insurance, payroll or contracted services, marketing and sales, purchasing equipment, and/or refinancing existing debt. 7 to 25 loans with grants are available, depending on financing requests. Interest rate on all loans is 3% and accompanying grants of at least $5,000, increasing with need.

Please note:

Loans are subject to each CDFI’s loan underwriting and approval process.
We can not finance real estate or land purchases, or costs associated with production of hydroponics, aquaculture, or agriculture. We can, however, cover costs associated with processing, marketing and distribution of farmed or harvested products.

Loan Details and Terms

Loan amount

$5,000 -$150,000
Interest Rates

3%
Fees

2-4%
Please note: There may be additional charges associated with legal fees, lien filings, and credit reporting beyond this percentage. All of these costs are included in your loan and thus, not due to the lender prior to or at closing.
Term

Up to 5 years
Payment

Terms and payment schedules based on project needs and financing partner
Collateral

Collateral required in the form of business and/or personal assets; note that grants paired with loans are meant to support this requirement
Financing Partner

Alaska: Spruce Root
Washington: Grow America
Oregon: Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO)

Apply

Applications for low interest loans and planning grants are open. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and be evaluated in the order received. These funds will be available until early 2027 or all funds are deployed.

The application link below will take you to another website. You will need to create an account, add your business/organization, and submit the eligibility form. If eligible, you will receive an email invitation to complete the planning grant or low interest loan application.

FAQs

Do you have a question that is not answered here? Feel free to get in touch with us at communitycapital@ecotrust.org.

Who can apply for financing?

We can fund HFFI eligible food retailers and businesses serving communities in Alaska, Washington, and/or Oregon. The Partnership’s goal is to increase access to resources and support to underserved communities. We prioritize financing for food retailers and businesses that are marginalized due to their race, ethnicity, and/or gender, as well as rural communities, in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington.

How do I know if my project is eligible?

Project eligibility is based on your business type (food retailer or business) and how your project increases access to healthy foods in low access communities. You can use this flow chart to assess your project’s eligibility or the short list below.

I am a food retailer or business located in Alaska, Washington, or Oregon.
I am located in an eligible area or sell to a retailer in an eligible area*
I accept SNAP or sell to a retailer that accepts SNAP.
I sell both perishable and staple foods or sell to a retailer that sells both.

*Please use this map to view eligible areas; note that if you are located in Alaska and not eligible on the linked map, please still reach out to us.

Project eligibility is based on the Health Food Financing Initiative requirements, as this funding is provided through the Reinvestment Fund’s Partnership Program grant.

What are staple and perishable foods?

To increase access to culturally relevant and healthy foods, we will prioritize food retailers that sell both staple (grains, dairy) and perishable goods (vegetables, fruits, proteins). To learn more about staple and perishable goods please see SNAP staple foods site. For food businesses, we will prioritize projects that sell to retailers that carry both staple and perishable goods.

What types of financing are available?

We have two types of financing available; Planning Grants and Low Interest Loans with Grants. Please see the “Grants and Financing Available” section above for more information.

How long is the application process?

Each application is made up of two parts. You will first have to create an account on our portal and submit an eligibility application. If your project is eligible, you will be invited to complete a low-interest loan or planning grant application (depending on which you selected to apply for in your eligibility application). Additionally, through our portal, you are able to invite others from your projects to support in filling out your application.

Each application is reviewed by a state-based committee who utilizes a shared set of criteria and consensus based decision making model. From eligibility to closing a loan, the process can take a month up to several months to complete.

What should I expect in applying for a low-interest loan?

We’ve put together this Loan Application Process and Checklist to help answer this question.

What criteria are applications reviewed on?

Our goal is to increase access to resources and support to underserved communities. We prioritize financing for food retailers and businesses that are marginalized due to their race, ethnicity, and/or gender in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington.

Priority Demographics: BIPOC, women-led, and rural-based businesses (population under 50,000)
Improved Access: Increases community access to healthy food
Community Impact: Addresses an identified community need
Project Readiness: Demonstrates strong planning and feasibility
Community Engagement: Shows a history of partnership within the community

Is grant funding available?

Yes, both of our financial offerings include grants. Please see the “Grants and Financing Available” section above for more information.

Partners

Grow America

Our CDFI partner in Washington, offering loans through this Partnership. Point of contact: Toni Stinnett

Microenterprise Services of Oregon

Our CDFI partner in Oregon, offering loans through this Partnership. Point of contact: Nicci Walker

Spruce Root

Our Native CDFI partner in Southeast Alaska, offering loans and technical assistance through this Partnership. Point of contact: Abbey Janes

Northwest Agriculture Business Center

Our Technical Assistance partner in Washington, offering technical assistance through this Partnership. Point of contact: Maxime Etilé

Prosper Portland

Our Public Entity partner in Portland, connecting Portland applicants to one on one technical assistance through this Partnership. Point of contact: Yvonne Smoker