Widely hailed urban mushroom farm at precipice of closure

Black Forest Mushrooms, an urban farm in Everett, is on the brink of closure as it seeks a $750,000 bailout to replace malfunctioning production equipment. Founder Nathanael Engen has already laid off 20 employees, noting that the business has been hailed as an innovative solution to food deficits. Engen's attempts to secure funding from state resources have been thwarted, with the Governor's office denying his request based on the claim that he has private investment money. He argues that these investments depend on the operation of the farm, which has suffered significantly due to equipment failures. Production has plummeted from 20,000 pounds of mushrooms monthly to just 2,000-3,000 pounds.

The farm began as a hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic and transitioned to a full-scale operation in 2023, but it has yet to achieve profitability. Local officials in Everett have voiced support for Engen's efforts, but they lack the financial capacity to assist directly. The situation underscores the difficulty small businesses face when scaling operations without sufficient initial capital.