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 expand support beyond downtown and Proctor to neighborhood markets that do not meet the strict standards of the Washington State Farmers' Markets Association (WSFMA) but that nevertheless provide fresh food and small-business incubation in underserved communities.

CED staff described the current market landscape: Tacoma Farmers Market (Broadway) began in 1990 and in 2020 launched a Fresh Express mobile market; Proctor’s market began in 1994 and is the only year-round market in Pierce County. In 2024 the two markets reported combined annual vendor sales of about $3,000,000, draw vendors and shoppers from roughly 90 ZIP codes, and list more than 100 vendors available to rotate into booths. Each market operates on an approximate annual budget of $200,000 and provides seasonal market staff positions, staff said.

Current city contracting: staff said existing biennial contract language has supplied the Proctor and Broadway markets with set contract amounts. CED said the Proctor market’s biannual contract is $13,500 (reflected in a 2025 contract of $6,750); the Tacoma Farmers Market (Broadway) has the same $6,750 2025 contract. An Eastside market had previously been supported with a council set-aside of $14,000 but that market closed, and staff propose redirecting those earlier set-aside dollars through the open application process to support other neighborhoods.

Council reaction and process details: Councilmember Albert Bushell said he was surprised by the presentation and asked that Downtown Tacoma Partnership be invited to provide its perspective. "This is the first time I've heard about this, so I'm, like, a little bit shell shocked right now," Bushell said. CED staff responded that the presentation was intended as a heads-up and that both established market managers may apply and would be eligible to receive similar funding if they score highest under the new criteria.

Scoring and priorities: staff said the application and scoring matrix will align with council priorities and the city's 2025 strategic plan, and will emphasize food access and equity. CED staff repeatedly said the highest scoring criterion will prioritize markets that address food deserts and provide fresh produce; produce availability will be one scoring element but not the sole determinant. Staff also said they will host an application workshop to assist smaller organizations in applying.

Limitations and vendor rules: CED noted WSFMA rules restrict participation in official farmers markets (for example, required percentages of produce vendors and prohibitions on reselling purchased goods), which can exclude many neighborhood markets from receiving support through market organizations that must follow WSFMA standards. The open contract opportunity is intended to allow city support for markets that do not meet WSFMA membership requirements but that still advance local food access and small-business incubation.

Next steps and timing: staff said they plan to notify market managers of the open process this month so managers can prepare; the application opportunity will launch in the fall to fund contracts for 2026. CED staff said they will return to the committee or chair with timing for any follow-up presentations if requested.

Votes and formal actions: there was no council vote on this administrative change. Committee members moved and approved adjournment at the end of the meeting.