CASPER, Wyo. — Eight Wyoming organizations are sharing $322,705 in new state grants aimed at bolstering local food production and ensuring fresh, Wyoming-grown food reaches tables across the Cowboy State, from food banks to consumer kitchens.
The funding, part of the Forward Contract Pilot Grant Program, will help to create stable supply chains for producers and enhance food access for communities statewide. The award announcement was made jointly by the Wyoming Department of Family Services and Food Works Group, the advisory firm administering the program.
Casper’s Eat Wyoming is a food hub that connects local farmers and producers directly with consumers. It is one of eight organizations that received awards. Eat Wyoming has a Veggie Box Program that delivers fresh produce to customers and also sells to stores across the state.
With the grant they received, Eat Wyoming will improve its delivery system and buy new inventory software. The software will help link Wyoming’s food producers with food banks and pantries. The goal is to create a reliable food supply chain so that food banks and pantries can get fresh, locally sourced food while also ensuring farmers have stable sales.
Key activities for Eat Wyoming include setting up contracts with food producers, improving food distribution, matching supply with demand and checking how well the program works for long-term success.
The Forward Contract Pilot Grant Program is part of a larger $2.4 million project funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, which aims to improve food access in Wyoming. The pilot program started accepting applications in January, open to Wyoming producers, food security organizations like food banks, and food distribution businesses.
A total of 33 applications were received, asking for over $1.15 million in funding. A committee with expertise in local food systems reviewed all applications. The Wyoming Food Insecurity System Implementation Steering Committee made the final decisions, prioritizing applicants who requested funds for equipment to provide quick benefits.
The $322,705 awarded is about 25% of the total funds available for the pilot program, which has a budget of around $1.3 million. The projects began May 1 and will continue through the end of the year.
Beyond Eat Wyoming, other awarded entities include:
- 1890 Farms in Riverton, specializing in sweet corn, aiming to expand distribution, improve food safety standards, and enhance infrastructure.
- The Edible Prairie Project in Gillette, focused on bridging the food insecurity gap in Campbell County by expanding Veggie Basket offerings with increased fresh produce and local protein for SNAP and WIC families.
- Foundations for Nations Food Pantry in Riverton, which will formalize relationships with local producers like 1890 Farms and beef producers to provide consistent access to local protein and produce for pantry patrons.
- One22 Resource Center in Jackson, partnering with Slow Food in the Tetons to establish forward contracts with Wyoming farmers and ranchers to supply locally grown food to the Jackson Cupboard food pantry.
- Rooted in Wyoming in Sheridan, a nonprofit that strengthens local food systems by connecting local producers with food assistance organizations to increase access to fresh, locally grown food, including beef, pork, eggs, and various produce.
- Silver Stream Farm in Sublette or Teton County, aiming to build relationships with local food security service organizations to provide high-quality, greenhouse-grown vegetables at no cost, establishing a scalable and sustainable process for long-term distribution.
- Slow Food Wind River in Lander, which operates Meadowlark Market & Kitchen and will implement a Food Reclamation Project to salvage and redistribute excess or unsellable food from local farmers markets and producers.
Looking ahead, Food Works Group intends to announce the availability of the full grant program by early 2026, with funds allocated to enhance food pantries’ capacity to purchase and distribute Wyoming-grown foods. It also plans to develop a process and begin making investments in infrastructure and distribution to better connect Wyoming producers to buyers.
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