Tacoma to open competitive funding for neighborhood farmers markets; about $48,000 available for 2026 contracts

Tacoma's Community and Economic Development Department (CED) said Tuesday it will open a competitive funding opportunity for neighborhood farmers markets in 2026 — with targeted outreach on the city's South and East sides — and will have a little over $48,000 available for contracting.

"We are going to open the market funding opportunity in 2026 with targeted outreach in the South And East Side. We will have a little over $48,000 available for contracting in 2026," said Sherry Hart, business and economic development analyst in the Community and Economic Development Department, during the Economic Development Committee meeting on July 8.

The change is an administrative shift in how the city allocates legacy market funding, CED staff said. The two organizations that currently receive recurring city funds — Tacoma Farmers Market (Broadway) and Proctor Farmers Market — will be welcome to apply under the new, open process. Carol Wolfe, also with CED, clarified the change "is an administrative" one and said staff do not intend to place the two established markets at risk.

Why it matters: city officials said the goal is to…