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Grants & Funding Opportunities

Current Funding Opportunities

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Title Division Applicants Description
Agricultural Preservation Fund Grants Environmental Stewardship Farm owners The Agricultural Preservation Fund and associated Agricultural Preservation Fund Board provides grants to eligible local units of government and their qualified Purchase of Development Rights programs (PDRs)
Animal Welfare Fund Grants Animal Industry Shelters The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development offers this grant opportunity to animal shelters for programs that increase sterilization rates among dogs and cats prior to adoption, provide anti-cruelty training for animal law enforcement agencies, offer proper animal care programs, and assist shelters with the unreimbursed costs of care for animals involved in law violations.
County Fairs Capital Improvement Grants Executive Office Any county, city, township, villager or public body The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development offers this grant opportunity to county fairs. This program will assist in the promotion of building improvements or other capital improvements on county fairgrounds within the state.
Farm Innovation Grants Agricultural Development Universities, colleges, community colleges, tech centers, technology incubators, and research centers in Michigan The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development offers the Farm Innovation Program to in-state educational and research centers to develop and support innovative solutions to real, immediate, and future farm problems facing Michigan’s food and agricultural industry.
Food and Agriculture Investment Fund Grants Agricultural Development Food and agriculture business in Michigan The Food and Agriculture Investment Program provides financial support for food and agriculture projects that help expand food and agriculture processing to enable growth in the industry and Michigan's economy.
Food Safety Education Fund Grants Food & Dairy Michigan governmental and non-profit organizations and entities The Food Safety Education grant program provides 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.
Horticulture Fund Grant Pesticide & Plant Pest Management Professors, researchers, extension agents The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development offers this grant opportunity to provide for research projects, to develop and improve training programs, and to develop outreach materials for the purposes of safeguarding plants and plant products from unwanted plant pests.
Livestock and Commodity Exposition Competitive Grants Executive Office County fairs, regional fairs, local fairs, festivals or livestock and commodity expositions The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development offers this grant opportunity to associations or other organized events hosting fairs or expositions showing livestock and commodities.
Michigan Craft Beverage Council Research Grants Agricultural Development Universities, colleges, community colleges, non-profit organizations, trade organizations, for-profit organizations

The Michigan Craft Beverage Council is a 10-member, governor-appointed board that is advisory to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Council represents a unified craft beverage industry and coordinates research, promotion, and agricultural business development efforts.

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grants Agricultural Development Agricultural producers or processors, Nonprofit organizations, Local government entities, Tribal governments, and Institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has a new grant program, Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain, to support expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products, including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products.

Rural Development Fund Grants Agricultural Development Individuals, organizations, businesses, local units of government, federally recognized tribes, and educational institutions in the eligible counties in Michigan The MDARD Agriculture Development Division provides grant opportunities to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure that benefits rural communities.
Specialty Crop Block Grants Agricultural Development Non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, local, state, and federal government entities, including tribal governments The MDARD Agriculture Development Division facilitates the grant funds to projects to enhance the competitiveness of Michigan specialty crops, which include fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).
Underserved, Value Added, and Regional Food Systems Grants Agricultural Development Food and agriculture businesses, farmers, food hubs, and food access organizations The MDARD Agriculture Development Division administers these grants to establish, retain, expand, attract or develop value added agricultural processing in Michigan, or that expand or develop regional food systems or access the healthy food.
Wastewater Infrastructure Fund Grants Agricultural Development Food and agriculture business in Michigan The MDARD Agriculture Development Division administers these grants to ensure compliance with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) wastewater regulations under the Groundwater Discharge Permit Program.