Marin County is rolling out $1,416,835 in matching grants through its Food, Agriculture, and Resilient Ecosystems (FARE) program. The goal? Strengthen local food systems and working lands in communities from San Rafael to Sausalito.
Thirty-five nonprofit programs across the county will get funding. Projects range from school and community gardens to prescribed fire and environmental restoration on agricultural lands, all backed by Measure A’s Parks, Open Space, and Sustainable Agriculture tax.
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It’s a pretty big deal for Marin’s push toward resilient ecosystems and fair access to healthy food. Residents in Mill Valley, Novato, and other areas stand to benefit.
Overview of Marin’s FARE Grants
County leaders said the fall 2025 cycle drew 47 applications, with requests totaling nearly $4.3 million. Staff chose projects that address unmet needs and serve vulnerable populations across Marin’s towns—from Corte Madera to San Anselmo and Fairfax.
The grants aim to fill funding gaps, with a focus on equity, partnership-building, and making a measurable impact in communities throughout the county.
To make decisions, Marin County staff teamed up with a bunch of groups: Marin Food Policy Council, Marin Community Foundation, HEAL Collaborative, the Office of Equity, the Department of Agriculture, UC Cooperative Extension, and Health and Human Services.
The county used its Race Equity Budget Tool and gathered community input. This helped direct funding toward outcomes that benefit Marin residents, especially in underserved neighborhoods of San Rafael and the southern edges of Novato, stretching up toward the hills of Larkspur and Sausalito.
Key Partners and Process
- Marin Food Policy Council
- Marin Community Foundation
- HEAL Collaborative
- Office of Equity
- Department of Agriculture
- UC Cooperative Extension
- Health and Human Services
These partnerships made a difference. The selected projects move the needle on ecological gains—from soil health to wildlife corridors—while also boosting local food access and farm viability across Marin’s patchwork of towns.
It really comes down to reflecting the lived realities of Marin City households, the farmworkers who tend fields in west San Rafael, and the garden stewards in San Anselmo. That’s the heart of it, if you ask me.
What the Grants Will Fund Across Marin
- Expanding access to farmland and gardening opportunities for underserved communities. This includes urban pockets of San Rafael, Novato, and Richmond-adjacent areas of Marin County, plus some rural spots in Point Reyes Station and Bolinas.
- Promoting carbon-capturing farming practices on working lands. These efforts stretch from the Tamalpais foothills to the Tamales Bay watershed.
- Improving water quality and soil health on agricultural lands in the Corte Madera and Larkspur corridors. The benefits will ripple out to nearby neighborhoods, too.
- Restoring habitats and creating wildlife corridors that connect Marin’s open spaces. The goal is to support biodiversity from Mill Valley to Tiburon and Sausalito.
- Supporting school and community gardens in Marin cities like San Rafael, San Anselmo, and Fairfax. These spaces help educate youth and neighbors about healthy food systems.
- Prescribed-fire planning and environmental restoration projects aim to reduce wildfire risk. These efforts will help protect working landscapes in the hills around Novato and Ross.
Funding Source, Scope, and Local Impact
Measure A is projected to provide about $4.8 million for FARE over the next six years. That shakes out to roughly $800,000 each year.
All grant proposals had to include a matching contribution. That could mean funds, volunteer time, or donated goods—no minimum match required.
For residents all over Marin—from Corte Madera’s town center to the lanes of Fairfax—this funding model encourages everyone to pitch in. Local partnerships help projects stick around long after the grant money runs out.
I’ve watched these investments make a difference. There are more farmers markets in San Rafael, school gardens thriving in San Anselmo, and habitat corridors getting restored to keep Marin’s coastline and hills healthy for the long haul.
If you’re wondering how your neighborhood might benefit—whether you’re near the Bay in Belvedere or up on the ridges near Tocaloma—this is the kind of county commitment that quietly changes daily life and builds up Marin’s resilience.
Here is the source article for this story: Grant Funds Allocated to Boost Food Systems and Working Lands in Marin
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