The Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center
With regional partners, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems is one of twelve organizations selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a Regional Food Business Center. These centers will help more farm and food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state, and local resources. In September 2022, USDA announced $400 million available to fund this initiative.
Between July 2023 and June 2028, the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center will receive $20 million to launch and coordinate this center with key partners in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. For regional tribal support, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture and Food Systems (DAFS), in partnership with the Great Lakes Intertribal Food Coalition (GLIFC), will serve Indigenous farmers and businesses. Over $10 million will be distributed directly to technical assistance providers and eligible business owners.
Learn more about the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center with this 2-page overview document.
Who Can Participate?
Small- to mid-sized farmers and historically marginalized food and farm business owners throughout Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center Partners
CRFS will serve as the key partner for Michigan, while the others will serve as Network Coordinators for their respective geographic areas, and the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin will work regionally across all states.
Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (Michigan)
Chicago Food Policy Action Council (Illinois)
Northwest Indiana Food Council (Indiana)
Food Finance Institute of the University of Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Food Systems (Regionally)
Featured in the News
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USDA Under Secretary, Stabenow Announce New Food Business Center
Published on May 23, 2023
Get a jump on grant applications across the Great Lakes Midwest: What you need to know webinar recording
This webinar presents information about how to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier for federal grant applications as well as information on upcoming assistance and funding opportunities.
Support for the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service Regional Food Business Centers Program. The 12 USDA Regional Food Business Centers support all 50 U.S. States and Territories, and are inclusive of all types of agricultural products produced locally or regionally.