Last Food Mile Grant

The Last Food Mile Grant is a one-time funding opportunity administered by Farm to Family, a program of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD). The goal of the grant is to help producers deliver locally grown foods to Michigan institutions, markets, and consumers by developing transportation and distribution infrastructure across the state, specifically addressing the processes in the food value chain that occur immediately before products reach the consumer.

Eligible applicants must be a Michigan-based farm business or a Michigan-based food business/organization that works directly with Michigan-based farmers. Preference is given to projects that develop market channels for regenerative agriculture products and to projects that allocate at least 80% of the proposed budget to a refrigerated vehicle valued at $100,000 or less that is paid in full by grant dollars.

Project eligibility requires proposals to expand the delivery of Michigan grown or produced foods to buyers who will prepare or eat the food, including individual consumers, schools, hospitals, senior centers, restaurants, cafes, and retail farm stops. In addition, projects must establish or expand at least one partnership with another business or organization to tackle distribution challenges regionally or locally. Proposals must demonstrate how they will meet targets for increasing the volume and dollar value of Michigan grown foods sold, increasing revenue and market access for Michigan farmers (including those practicing regenerative agriculture), and expanding consumer access.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the state's online grants management system, MIAgGrants, between December 16, 2025, and February 6, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. Projected application review occurs from February through March 2026, with targeted grant award announcements scheduled for April to May 2026.