MDARD Launches Grant Program to Strengthen Michigan’s Food Distribution Infrastructure

Funding will help producers deliver locally grown foods to Michigan institutions, markets and consumers

Lansing, Mich.—Today, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development s (MDARD) Farm to Family Program launched a new grant opportunity called Last Food Mile to support the development of transportation and distribution infrastructure for small and medium food producers across Michigan.

MDARD will accept applications for the new grants through the MIAgGrants portal today through Friday, February 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET. Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend the following webinars to learn more about the application process:

• Last Food Mile Open Office Hours Friday, December 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET
• Last Food Mile Grant Info Session Tuesday, January 6 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET

"The rise in demand for locally farmed foods has outpaced the transportation and distribution networks that sustain our regional food systems,"  said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "We've heard consistently from farmers and communities that infrastructure like small or medium refrigerated trucks are the missing piece to ensuring nutritious food grown here, stays here. MDARD's Last Food Mile grants will bridge that gap. When we connect growers and producers to local markets and consumers to local foods, communities prosper and families thrive."

The Last Food Mile grant program offers maximum awards of $100,000 for projects focused on increasing:

• The volume/weight of Michigan-grown foods sold in Michigan communities.
• The dollar value of Michigan-grown foods sold and the revenue to Michigan farmers.
• The number of Michigan farmers reached, including those who use regenerative practices. 
• Local and regional market access for a broader geographic distribution of Michigan farmers.
• The number or types of consumers who have access to Michigan-grown foods.

To be eligible for this grant program, the applicant must be a Michigan-based farm business or a Michigan-based food business or organization that works directly with Michigan-based farmers. Projects must expand delivery of Michigan-grown or produced foods to buyers who will consume or prepare the food. Projects must also expand at least one partnership with another business or organization to address local or regional food distribution challenges.

The Last Food Mile grants complement the Farm to Family Program s other innovative initiatives to strengthen regional food systems across Michigan. Last week, the program launched the Good Food for Michigan project, which will prioritize assisting Michigan institutions like community colleges and hospitals with procuring healthy food grown by Michigan farmers and producers.

In its first year, MDARD s Farm to Family Program has awarded more than $730,000 to support food hubs and farm stops that give Michigan producers and consumers more opportunities to sell and buy locally grown foods. So far, work completed with support from grant funding has resulted in moving nearly 85,000 pounds of local produce and meat and serving nearly 1,400 Michigan families.

Those interested in applying for Last Food Mile grants may visit MDARD's grant website for additional program details. All applications must be submitted through the MiAgGrants system.

Additional questions about the application process can be emailed to MDARD-FarmToFamily@michigan.gov.

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