Nearly $5 million in USDA grant funding could return to King County and Viva Farms

Preliminary injunction issued by a U.S. District Court judge could restore a Land Access Program grant that was terminated in March.

Nearly $5 million in USDA grant funding could return to King County and Viva Farms
Viva Farms, a farmer training center with properties in King and Skagit counties, could see $2.5 million in USDA grant funding be restored. USDA earlier in the year eliminated the Increasing Land, Capital and Market Access program. (Photo courtesy of Viva Farms)

A judge for the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction that prevents the USDA from terminating the Increasing Land, Capital and Market Access program to 24 organizations and local government entities. 

Two of those, King County and Viva Farms, could see nearly $5 million worth of grant funding restored. Those grants helped fund programs that benefit new and under-represented farmers. Both groups learned in March that USDA was eliminating the grant.

However, officials from both King County and Viva Farms are waiting to see how the legal process plays out.