Underserved, Value-Added, and Regional Food Systems Grants

The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) is offering a grant opportunity to promote the expansion of value-added agriculture production, processing, develop food systems, healthy food access, and underserved business development within the state. Funding areas include urban agriculture, farm markets, food hubs, food access and education, value-added food processing, innovation, feasibility studies, and outreach.

Eligible applicants include food and agriculture businesses, farmers, food hubs, and food access organizations. Priority is given to underserved entities, including beginning, veteran, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers or ranchers, as well as women-owned and minority-owned businesses, who are eligible for a reduced match requirement.

Applications must be submitted via the MiAgGrants site by the deadline. The process includes a proposal release, submission, scoring by a Joint Evaluation Committee (JEC), and award announcements. Applicants must be registered in the State of Michigan Vendor Self Serv system.