We are excited to announce the 9 awardees of our Workplace Safety for Workers Affected by Climate Change Grant. A community advisory board selected these community-based and tribal organizations through a competitive process. These organizations are expected to receive a total of $1.1 million.
2025-2027 Workplace Safety for Workers Affected by Climate Change Grant awardees:
- Columbia Valley Community Health
- Community for the Advancement of Family Education (CAFÉ)
- Evergreen Social Impact
- Latino Civic Alliance
- Patriarchs of Progression
- Reclaim
- Semillero de Ideas
- Unidos Nueva Alianza Foundation
- Wakulima USA
Tribes also receive Workplace Safety for Workers Affected by Climate Change Grants through a non-competitive process. This application is open through June 30, 2026.
This grant program focuses on the workplace health and safety of workers who are affected by climate impacts. This includes extreme heat and cold, wildfire smoke, drought, and flooding. The grants for the 2025-2027 biennium (2-year period) will focus primarily on the health and safety of agricultural workers.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics defines agricultural workers as those who maintain crops and tend livestock. These workers also perform physical labor and operate machinery under the supervision of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers. Their duties include:
- Planting, inspecting, and harvesting crops.
- Irrigating farm soil and maintaining ditches, pipes, and pumps.
- Operating and servicing farm machinery and tools.
- Applying fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungi, and weeds.
- Moving plants, shrubs, and trees with wheelbarrows or tractors.
- Feeding livestock.
- Cleaning and disinfecting livestock cages, pens, and yards.
- Examining animals to detect symptoms of illnesses or injuries.
- Administering vaccines to protect animals from diseases.
- Using brands, tags, or tattoos to mark livestock ownership and grade.
- Herding livestock to pastures for grazing or to scales, trucks, or other enclosures.
Examples of agricultural workers include:
- Farmworkers.
- Nursery and greenhouse workers.
- Farm and ranch animal farmworkers.
- Agricultural equipment operators.
Community-based and led organizations are uniquely positioned to identify, engage with, and respond to the needs of the agricultural workers they serve. They are invaluable partners in navigating environmental justice concerns of their communities.
Grantees received 2 funding opportunities to support the workplace health and safety of workers affected by climate impacts:
- Pass-through funding ($500,000 - $750,000): DOH invited community-based organizations to sub-grant or award funds to other community-based organizations. Organizations use these funds to support the health and safety of agricultural workers across Washington state. We did not award any passthrough grants.
- Project funding ($50,000 - $150,000): An organization may have applied on its own or in partnership with other organization(s) for funds. These funds address the health and safety of agricultural workers. DOH awarded 9 project grants.
The Workplace Safety for Workers Affected by Climate Change Grant is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by using cap-and-invest dollars to reduce climate pollution, create jobs, and improve public health. Visit the CCA website to learn more.
