Planning and Predevelopment of a Community Farm on Saint Paul Island

The Project is the planning and predevelopment of a Community Farm which includes two greenhouses (one hot, one cool), a composting facility, a chicken house, facilities for retail sales of staple and perishable foods, and space for workshops and community gatherings. The location identified for the project is in the North Lukanin Hills Subdivision, Lot 2 Block 3. This 1-acre lot owned by the City of Saint Paul is adjacent to the Bulk Fuel Farm, Fire Station, Power Plant, and Public Works Machine Shop. The specific activities to be completed with awarded grant funds include the following:

• Business and feasibility planning,
• market research,
• community engagement,
• infrastructure planning, and
• conceptual design of retail space

The goal of the project is the establishment of a sustainable community food hub that improves access to and availability of staple and perishable foods and improves food supply chain resilience for the community of Saint Paul Island. The objectives are to ensure food security, promote food independence, improve nutritional intake, strengthen community ties, provide educational programs, and create new job opportunities. Grant funds will be used to assist in the development and launch of a new food retail project that ensures reliable access to fresh and nutritious food, contributing to food security; provides increased local food production, fostering self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on imported food; and improves nutritional intake specifically for children, contributing to their overall health and development.

Market Assessment and Concept Development Phase

The Agnew::Beck team visited Saint Paul Island August 11-13, 2025 during the Market Assessment and Concept Development phase of the project. Before visiting the community, the team reviewed and analyzed background information (including budgets, supplier quotes, prior community surveys, and relevant planning documents), conducted interviews with eight partners, developed case study profiles of nine greenhouse / community farm operations around Alaska, and compiled community data about demographics, grocery and food demand, and economics. The summary information from these efforts will be compiled in the Business Plan. The purpose of the visit was to engage community members, ground truth the ideas and opportunities emerging from the process to date, and to get an in-person sense of the opportunities and challenges related to the farm. The specific objectives for the community visit were to:

• Meet with partners to refine market opportunities, hear input on the emerging farm and retail store concept, and collect data for the business plan and financial pro forma.
• Gather feedback from Saint Paul community members about the emerging products, potential services, and farm and retail store concept.
• Visit the farm site.

Community Open House

On Tuesday August 12, 2025, the City of Saint Paul invited residents to an Open House and dinner to share progress on the Community Farm Project and hear their input and ideas for farm products, programs, and greenhouse and retail area layouts. Approximately 30 residents attended and participated in the Open House. Three stations were set up to learn what farm products residents are interested in, how the community wants to interact with the farm, and where they think different farm activities should happen at the site. Insights from participant responses will help inform the business plan and feasibility study. One of the primary objectives of the Open House was to learn from the community what they hope to be able to purchase from the Community Farm. Agnew::Beck also asked two questions about how the community might want to interact with the community farm. Participants were invited to view possible layouts and leave ideas, comments, and questions on how the greenhouse and retail store spaces might look.