Dane County Awards $35,200 Through 2026 Partners in Community Food Grant Program

April 29, 2026
execmedia@danecounty.gov, 608-800-1127
County Executive, Office for Equity & Inclusion

Funding Supports Local Efforts to Expand Food Access and Advance Equity

DANE COUNTY – Dane County Executive Melissa Agard today announced $35,200 in funding awards to ten local organizations through the 2026 Tamara D. Grigsby Dane County Civil Rights Department Partners in Community (PIC) Food Grant Program.

The PIC Food Grant Program supports innovative, community-led projects that address food insecurity and strengthen equitable access to healthy, culturally relevant food across Dane County. Funded initiatives focus on improving food access, supporting regional agriculture, reducing food waste, and elevating community voice in local food systems.

“Everyone in Dane County deserves reliable access to healthy, culturally relevant food,” said County Executive Melissa Agard. “These grants invest directly in community-driven solutions that are making a real difference - from expanding delivery options and supporting local growers to reducing food waste and reaching families where they are. This work is about ensuring no one in our community is left behind.”

This year’s funding will support a diverse range of projects, including food delivery programs, expanded cold storage, school-based pantries, community gardens, and partnerships connecting local farms to families in need.

“As a Dane County Food Council member and Food Pantry Director, I see firsthand how rising food costs and economic pressures continue to impact families across our communities,” said Supervisor Kerry Marren. “The Partners in Community Food Grants support community-led projects that expand access to healthy, culturally relevant food, strengthen local food systems, and address food insecurity by investing in solutions rooted in equity, access, and community engagement.”

The following ten organizations were selected to receive 2026 PIC Food Grants:

  • Bikes for Kids Wisconsin – Launching “Meals on 2 Wheels,” a volunteer-powered e-cargo bike delivery program connecting food pantries with households facing barriers to access.
  • Community Action Coalition South Central WI – Upgrading a delivery van to refrigerated capacity to better serve smaller farms and expand fresh food distribution.
  • Downtown Middleton Farmers Market – Increasing access to locally produced food, including for low-income residents and communities historically marginalized in food systems.
  • Good Shepherd Lutheran Allied Food Pantry – Expanding year-round access to fresh, locally grown aquaponic produce for families experiencing food insecurity.
  • Madison Area Food Pantry Gardens (Forward Garden) – Increasing cold storage capacity to support expanded production and distribution to 45 pantry and meal sites.
  • McFarland Community Garden – Expanding access to garden plots and coordinating donation of surplus produce to local food pantries.
  • Monona Grove School District Nutrition Department – Launching the Silver Eagle Food Pantry to reduce food waste and support food security for high school students.
  • People Food Community Farm LLC – Expanding CSA distribution and delivery in Marshall and Deerfield while gathering community input to guide future production.
  • Reach Dane – Strengthening partnerships to provide fresh eggs, seeds, and produce to families enrolled in Head Start programming.
  • Urban Triage – Expanding distribution of more than 5,000 pounds of locally grown produce annually, including delivery to apartments in Sun Prairie and Fitchburg.

Through these investments, Dane County continues to support innovative, community-based strategies that build a more equitable and resilient local food system.