Food and Agriculture Investment Fund Grants

The Food and Agriculture Investment Program provides financial support to expand the Michigan food and agriculture sector, increase food processing activities within the state, grow Michigan exports, and enable economic growth across the industry. The program supports businesses that are growing, investing, developing talent, and improving technology.

Eligible applicants include small, medium, and large food, agriculture, and forest product companies, as well as other entities investing in or expanding food, agriculture, or forest products operations in Michigan. Applicants must demonstrate financing capability and due diligence on their proposed project.

Projects are evaluated on criteria including their overall impact on the agriculture industry, impact to the agricultural supply chain, job creation, creation of greater efficiency in the food and agricultural sector, filling a gap in the supply chain, dollars leveraged from private sector investment, and clearly identified outcomes and performance metrics. Eligible project examples include purchasing processing equipment, upgrading manufacturing lines, constructing greenhouses and warehouses, developing tolling or food innovation centers, and expanding meat processing facilities.

Potential projects participate in an application process facilitated through their regional MDARD Economic Development team member. The team collaborates with applicants on a preliminary application, which MDARD reviews to ensure program fit. Approved projects then complete a full application that is reviewed and either approved or denied by the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development.