Many Whidbey makers, growers and retailers will have new opportunities to collaborate thanks to a new grant from Goosefoot. Whidbey Island Grown, or WIG, recently received $7,500 from the Goosefoot Community Fund to support member networking events and increase activities at the third annual Whidbey Island Grown week, which starts Sept. 27.

“We’re excited about the coming year,” said John Burks, owner of Kettle’s Edge Farm and chair of WIG steering committee.

The organization comprises local businesses and aims to promote Whidbey Island goods and services. The two networking events that will be paid for with $2,500 of the grant are meant to introduce members to each other and seek out ways businesses can support one another, Burks said.

He said prospective members will also be invited to learn about the organization and see how “they might fit in and benefit,” he said.

The remaining $5,000 will go toward four days of activities at the end of Whidbey Island Grown Week, set to take place as the Island County Fairgrounds. Burks said the details haven’t been ironed out yet, but there will likely be workshops and seminars for some of the days.

The growing organization was founded in 2009, but relaunched and re-branded itself within recent years. Burks said the group just surpassed the 100-member mark.

“We’re still a fledgling organization,” he said.

The group is working to establish a board after operating with a steering committee for a couple of years.

• More information can be found at whidbeyislandgrown.com