October 3 , 2011

LANSING – The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) is seeking grant proposals for food safety education and training as part of the Food Safety Education Fund grant program. Grant proposals must be received by MDARD no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, October 28, 2011.

The Food Safety Education Fund was established under the Michigan Food Law of 2000, Sec. 4117, and is funded through assessments of $3.00 to $5.00 from each Michigan food establishment license. Currently, there is $150,000 in the fund for the food safety education and training grants.

Grants from the Food Safety Education Fund are competitive and designed to provide training and education to consumers on food safety; and training and education to food service establishment employees and agents of the director who enforce Michigan’s food regulations. Entities eligible to receive grants include Michigan governmental and non-profit organizations and entities.

Proposals will be evaluated and scored based on the following criteria:

• Provides consumer food safety education or provides food safety training and education to food service establishment employees or regulators who enforce the food law
• Meets a broad statewide need
• Improves food safety or food safety education
• Measurable outcomes
• Opportunities to build upon previously funded projects
• Opportunities to work with key partners directly involved in the grant project
• Opportunities to leverage funds or match funds
• Proposals with sub-grantees will be considered

The applications will be evaluated, scored, and ranked by a Joint Evaluation Committee (JEC) in November 2011 to recommend which projects will be funded. The JEC will be composed of MDARD and industry representatives whom were not directly involved in any grant proposals. Grants will be awarded for projects that run from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Grant proposals may be submitted electronically or via traditional mail (please allow ample time for delivery) to:

Heather Brewer
Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
Food and Dairy Division
P.O. Box 30017
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Fax: (517) 373-3333
Email: brewerh9@michigan.gov

Electronic submissions will be accepted and encouraged. If submitting a hard copy of your proposal, please allow additional time for mailing. For information, visit www.michigan.gov/mda or contact Jeanne Hausler, grant administrator, at hauslerj@michigan.gov or (517) 373-9790.

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