Black Farmers Collective

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** ISSUES: LIMITED AWARENESS OF/ACCESS TO: A) SUPPORT SERVICES/FUNDING; B) EVIDENCE-BASED SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES; AND C) BUSINESS MANAGEMENT EXPERTISE.THE BLACK FARMERS COLLECTIVE (BFC), A NONPROFIT COMPOSED OF SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS, INPARTNERSHIP WITH THE KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS FARM UNIT(KCDNRP), WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH SERVICES TO 45-65 UNDERSERVED SMALL FARMS IN THE 3 MOST POPULOUS COUNTIES INWASHINGTON STATE. BFC BRINGS FARMING EXPERTISE; SUBSTANTIAL TRAINING SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE; CULTURALCOMPETENCY; EXTENSIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN BIPOC/IMMIGRANT FARMING COMMUNITIES;AND SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE SUPPORTING BIPOC/IMMIGRANT FARMERS. KCDNRP CAN PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES SUCH AS ACCESS TO FARMLAND LEASES AND WATER.BFC GOALS ARE TO 1) INCREASEPARTICIPATION IN USDA AND OTHER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THROUGH OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE;AND 2) INCREASE FARM VIABILITY AND FINANCIAL SUCCESS FOR THE TARGETED FARMS, LEVERAGING USDA ANDOTHER RESOURCES. WE WILL ACCOMPLISH GOALS THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE, CULTURALLY SENSITIVE, PEER-TO-PEERAPPROACH BOLSTERED BY CULTURAL/LINGUISTIC SUPPORT, PROVIDING A) VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON GROUP TRAINING;B) CUSTOMIZED ONE-ON-ONE VIRTUAL AND ON-SITE TRAINING, CONSULTATION, AND COACHING; C) GUIDES ANDVIDEOS TO REINFORCE TRAINING; AND D) HANDS-ON ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUAL FARMS. SPECIFIC TYPES OFTRAINING AND ASSISTANCE INCLUDE: I) EVIDENCE-BASED FARMING PRACTICES, INCLUDING PROVENREGENERATIVE FARMING METHODS; II) USDA AND OTHER FARM SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES;III) GUIDANCE ON NAVIGATINGAPPLICATION PROCESSES; AND IV.) FINANCIAL LITERACY AND BUSINESSDEVELOPMENT.