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Visionary Seed Fund
The Visionary Seed Fund seeks to identify solutions for mobility challenges using Los Angeles County as the test-bed to prove these concepts. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Round 2 will be released in 2026. Subscribe here to stay
tuned for updates.
What is the Visionary Seed Fund?
Measure M allocates $20 million over 40 years for the Visionary Seed Fund (VSF), a
competitive grant process to support projects that “help spark and develop innovative mobility concepts in Los Angeles County.”
In 2023, Metro launched Round 1 of the Visionary Seed Fund and awarded pilot projects that proposed strategies to increase ridership to pre-COVID levels and beyond. Due to COVID, this round combined two funding cycles for a total award of $3 million.
The awarded projects are currently underway and are impacting communities throughout LA County:
- Torrance Transit (microtransit pilot)
- City of West Covina (microtransit pilot)
- Metro (station area activations):
- Leimert Park Station
- Westlake/MacArthur Park Station
- Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station
Will there be another round of the Visionary Seed Fund?
Yes, Round 2 of the Visionary Seed Fund will open in 2026 and make $1.5 million available to eligible transit operators.
Metro is currently evaluating themes for the next round of funding. If you have suggestions, share them with us by email at vsf@metro.net.
Who is eligible to apply?
Only Metro, municipal transit operators and local operators in LA County are all eligible to apply for VSF funding opportunities.
Eligible applicants are required to identify one or more research partner(s) to evaluate how proposed projects demonstrate through measurable outcomes how each addresses the challenges put forth in the notice of funding opportunity. Eligible applicants may also incorporate project partners that include, but are not limited to:
- Private for-profit and not-for-profit
- Operators of transportation services
- State or local government entities
- Academic institutions
Where can I learn more about the Visionary Seed Fund?
For more information, please send an email to vsf@metro.net or subscribe here for updates as they become available.
