Harrell’s plan would increase City’s food investments by 20% to over $50 million, expand successful Fresh Bucks program, address grocery security and closures, and support food access in the face of federal funding cuts.
Proposal also includes public safety solutions to support a vibrant Lake City and other neighborhoods, following place-based model piloted Downtown.
Seattle – Today, in the Lake City neighborhood, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced a comprehensive set of investments in his 2026 budget proposal to significantly increase food access in the wake of President Trump’s budget bill gutting funding for food programs. Mayor Harrell’s plan also works to address structural issues that have impacted basic access to food and pharmaceuticals.
“Too many Seattle neighbors are feeling the impacts of Trump’s inflation, tariffs, and dangerous actions that put the most basic of needs – healthy food – out of reach,” said Mayor Harrell. “Food remains too expensive, and, in too many cases, inaccessible due to grocery closings and food deserts. While no single solution can solve this complicated challenge, this plan is a set of real actions and proven investments that will make a difference: more affordable food to address hunger, more healthy options to improve nutrition, and more access to reduce food deserts. Put simply, affordable food access is at the foundation of a healthy life and a healthy city – this proposal invests in that healthy future.”
Mayor Harrell’s plan and budget proposal would increase the City’s investment in food access and availability by nearly $12 million, bringing total investments to over $50 million. The proposal is a comprehensive approach to current and future food needs, including:
Nearly Doubling Fresh Bucks Investments: Adding an additional $6 million to Seattle’s Fresh Bucks program to increase the monthly participant stipend by 50% to $60 a month and serving everyone on the current 4,000+ person waitlist, in addition to continuing to serve 12,000 already enrolled Seattle families. A recent University of Washington study found that participants of the Fresh Bucks program, which helps low-income residents afford fruits and vegetables at farmers markets, farm stands, independent grocers, and supermarkets, had a 31% higher rate of food security and consume at least three daily servings of fruits and vegetables.
Ending Non-Compete Grocery and Pharmacy Property Covenants: The mayor will soon propose city legislation that bans property restrictions and non-compete clauses for grocery store and pharmacy leases. When a grocery store or pharmacy closes, these restrictive covenants block efforts to bring new grocery stores and pharmacies into these spaces that are already built out and could easily house a new store. Grocery and pharmacy stores are essential services for our neighborhoods, and we must put an end to these restrictive covenants.
Food Bank Support: Adding $3 million to support local food banks, which also includes mobile food pantries, home delivery to homebound residents, and other grocery access for individuals and families. With the largest cut to SNAP benefits in history, President Trump slashed billions of dollars in funding dedicated to addressing food insecurity, building on earlier cuts to food banks. Mayor Harrell’s plan will help protect Seattle from Trump’s cruelty.
Exempting Groceries and Pharmacies from the State B&O tax: Mayor Harrell will seek legislation in Olympia in January to exempt groceries and pharmacies from Washington state’s Business & Occupation (B&O) tax, recognizing that these businesses operate with razor-thin margins and are vital for healthy and thriving communities.
Grocery Store Security: Dedicating $1 million to address retail theft, property damage, and other crimes at grocery stores through the Seattle Office of Economic Development. Supporting infrastructure improvements and security solutions, investments will make grocery stores throughout Seattle safer for workers and customers.
Healthy Meal Access: Adding $1 million to support year-round prepared hot meal access for youth, seniors, people experiencing homelessness, and others in need of a nutritious meal, building on existing City investments.
More Groceries in More Places: Providing $700,000 to support the opening and expansion of small businesses offering healthy, fresh foods and cultural household essentials throughout Seattle neighborhoods. This program will seek to encourage and incentivize food access, with a specific focus on food deserts, as well as new opportunities for corner stores and bodegas through changes proposed in the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan Update.
Lake City Farmers Market Expansion: Allocating more than $300,000 over three years to extend Lake City Farmers Market by an additional 15 weeks per year and future transition to Saturdays (currently open 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays, June through October). Following the recent announcement of the upcoming closure of the neighborhood’s grocery story, this is a first step toward increasing food access in the neighborhood.
Neighborhood Place-Based Public Safety Improvements: Adding $4 million into a new fund to improve public safety, promote economic growth, and encourage neighborhood renewal in neighborhoods like Lake City and Little Saigon. This successful place-based approach was piloted Downtown and is ready to be expanded to other neighborhoods. This coordinated, cross-department public safety strategy includes increased trash removal, spot pressure washing of sidewalks, improved lighting, and police actions focused on those causing neighborhood harm, all designed to boost economic growth.
These items will be considered by the City Council as part of Mayor Harrell’s 2026 budget proposal, which will be presented in full later this month.
The City Council will consider these items and more over the next several months.
What People Are Saying
Debora Juarez, Councilmember, Seattle City Council District 5
“Expanding the Lake City Farmers Market comes at a critical time for our neighborhood. Thank you to the Mayor for his leadership and investment that will soon enable people to access fresh food more easily, while supporting farmers and local community. Lake City is a rich and diverse neighborhood, and we look forward to enhancing its economic vibrancy in this way.”
Joy Hollingsworth, Councilmember, Seattle City Council District 3
“We continue to see firsthand how food security and access remain major challenges in many communities throughout Seattle. Expanding the Fresh Bucks program, growing the Lake City Farmers Market, and providing additional support for local store security are all welcome investments that will hopefully have a real impact. I want to thank Mayor Harrell, his team, and our community partners for their leadership on this critical issue.”
Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Councilmember, Position 8, Citywide
“My office worked with Mayor Harrell’s team to develop the Seattle Shield Initiative that is now before the voters. My goal in that work, and in budget matters generally, is to better align investments in our small businesses and our neighbors with our values as a community. Expanding Fresh Bucks and strengthening our food banks and meal programs proves that progressive revenue policy works. When we ask the largest corporations to pay their fair share, working families see real results.”
César García, Co-Director, Lake City Collective
“Lake City is a strong and resilient community. Thanks to City programs like Fresh Bucks, the Environmental Justice Fund, the Food Equity Fund, and Back to Business, we are bringing food access, security, and food entrepreneurship to people and opportunities for small ethnic businesses to stay in place. People deserve a variety of options to provide for their families, and all these programs only make us resilient to withstand any significant changes in our neighborhoods.”
Michelle Mitchell-Brannon, Director of Youth Development and Education, Atlantic Street Center, Fresh Bucks Community Enrollment Partner
“We are deeply grateful for the Mayor’s proposal to expand Fresh Bucks, coming at a time when the high cost of groceries is making it harder for families to afford healthy food. This support would ease the burden on parents, helps children grow up nourished, and bring dignity and hope to households across our community. We thank the City of Seattle for this commitment and are honored to stand alongside our partners in building a healthier future for every family.”
Jennifer Antos, Executive Director, Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets
“At the Neighborhood Farmers Markets, we see a clear demand for healthy, affordable food across Seattle. One way to meet that need is by investing in our regional food system—supporting local farmers, strengthening our food supply, and ensuring local food is within reach for everyone regardless of their income.”
Melissa Knox, Economics Professor, University of Washington.
“The message from our research is clear: Fresh Bucks works. It improves diet, it improves economic security, and it gives families peace of mind. But for that impact to last, people need consistent, reliable access to the benefit.”
Ivy Yan, Manager, Lulu Mart, Fresh Bucks Partner Retailer in the Chinatown-International District
“We are thrilled for this. Fresh Bucks sales are an important part of our business and these investments would mean that Fresh Bucks customers would have more to support their families to get more healthy foods.”
Fran Yeatts, Executive Director, West Seattle Food Bank
“Food Banks across the country are very concerned about how cuts in benefits at the federal level and increasing costs will impact families that truly need assistance. This investment sends a powerful message that Seattle understands food access is a foundation for stability. When people have steady access to food, the whole community is healthier and more resilient. City funding means fewer neighbors go hungry and more families can stay steady through hard times.”
Marcia Wright-Soika, Executive Director, FamilyWorks
“Families across Seattle are feeling the ripple effects of the federal slashing of our social safety net, and at FamilyWorks we’ve seen demand rise sharply for emergency and mobile food programs. Too many families are being unjustly forced to make impossible choices between food, housing, and other essentials, while food banks on the front lines of this growing crisis are struggling to keep pace with the need. The City’s added investment in local food banks is a critical step in strengthening our community safety net and showing families facing food insecurity that they are not alone.”
Michelle Caulfield, Interim Director at the Office of Sustainability and Environment
“Food is a basic right — but so is access to nutritious foods, and the freedom to make choices that meet the unique needs of your family. Expanding Seattle’s Fresh Bucks program will enroll thousands of households from the waitlist, providing community members with proven, local solutions during a time of damaging federal disinvestment. We look forward to welcoming more households to Fresh Bucks, increasing voucher values for all customers, and supporting Seattle’s small businesses and farmers markets.”
Srijan Chakraborty, Co-Executive Director, Hunger Intervention Program
“We are seeing an increasing number of people accessing our meals. High inflation and reduced federal food support are making it much harder for people in our communities to put food on their tables. We are grateful to have our local leaders stepping in at this critical time to support human services.”