OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Funding opportunities are now available to prospective recipients. Some are looking to benefit community infrastructure in Washington and others are looking to support local wildlife.

The state Department of Health (DOH) just opened their submission period for the Health Equity Zones Initiative, specifically for Native communities. The initiative looks to provide support to people in environmental, social and low-resource conditions where health is negatively impacted.

One Tribal or Native Urban Community will be selected by the Indigenous Advisory Panel, receiving a flexible amount of $200,000 per year for two years. The funds can be used to build systems for support in developing health-improving infrastructure according to the DOH. Applicants have until May 22 to apply.

The state Department of Agriculture (WSDA) offers $2 million in grants for supporting market access and benefiting local food supply chains. Applications for the Local Food System Infrastructure Grant program are open through April 17.

According to WSDA, the goal of these grants is to expand and strengthen the connections of Washington’s supply chain, targeting food distributors, farms, ranches and processors. The department on their website said that planning, equipment and facilities used to do anything related to producing local food all the way from the farm to the table can be covered under the program.

And the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is also offering grant money for projects focused on helping local at-risk wildlife.

$1 million is available for the projects, and the department expects to fund eight to 12 projects this year. WDFW wants to give anywhere from $20,000 to $200,000 to each of the awardees of their new Wildlife Diversity Grant Program.

In a statement, WDFW Wildlife Diversity Assistant Division Manager Jenna Judge said that the program is an exciting step forward in supporting recovery actions for these imperiled species regionally.

Applicants are only eligible for those employed by a public, nonprofit, academic or tribal entity. Projects must plan on taking place between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.

Grant applications are due May 5. To find out more, visit the WDFW’s website.