WCG has long valued the connections we share with local farmers and growers within our community food system. Research has shown that community members want to be involved in their food system and local food is in demand, but there are significant barriers to running a profitable and sustainable urban farming operation here in Salt Lake County. Limited access to affordable/accessible education, land, and hands-on experience in urban farming is contributing to food insecurity and a weakened local food system. By providing education, land access, job training, and community resources, WCG is building an education and support system to encourage new and existing farmers to enter - and stay - in the field and build our local food system.
Farm Hub on Utah Street
WCG’s Farm Hub on Utah Street will be the primary hub for the Farm Incubator Program’s activities.
The Farm Incubator Group Site will host program participants who are in need of space to grow and have already completed the skills training and business development stages of launching their farming operation. The shared infrastructure and WCG staff support for these participants are intended to help them sustainably grow their operations.
Community Input
In January and February or 2025, we organized two community listening sessions with existing growers and stakeholders in Salt Lake County’s food system to better understand the successes and challenges of being an urban farmer here. The feedback from these sessions has been essential in ensuring that WCG’s vision for this program matches the community’s needs and is responsive to the current moment without duplicating existing efforts and initiatives. We invite you to review the takeaways of those sessions here.
Throughout 2025, we have been working to prepare the Farm Incubator Group Site to host program participants beginning in 2026 while also consulting with our partners and learning from other incubator models. All of this is informing the program’s ongoing development. We look forward to continuing to gather feedback and needs regularly as part of the program’s essential activities.
More information to come about the program structure and how to get involved!
Program Launch
WCG’s Farm Incubator Program will launch in 2026 with program participants beginning to grow at the Farm Incubator Group Site. Program structure and development will continue and we anticipate having all aspects of the program fully operational in 2027.
We will be hiring a Farm Incubator Program Manager in the near future.