Michigan Craft Beverage Council Research Grants (MCBC)

The Michigan Craft Beverage Council (MCBC) 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. The Council offers a research grant (maximum request $40,000) and an education grant (maximum request $5,000). The FY27 round is currently OPEN.

MCBC FY27 research and education priorities: increasing use of Michigan agricultural products in craft beverage production (market research, consumer education, utilization strategies, supply chain shifts, capacity building, export markets, promoting the value of supporting Michigan-grown); regenerative agricultural practices and adapting management practices to Michigan's unique production areas for crops used in craft beverage production, and end-use market and marketing strategies for crops grown using regenerative agriculture principles; crop quality, new varieties and blends (including crop varieties not regularly grown in Michigan), proper handling and growing techniques, and flavor profile analysis for hops, grapes, fruit, small grains, or other agricultural inputs grown in Michigan and used in craft beverage production; and quality control and quality assurance methods that maintain or extend the flavor, shelf life, and packaging integrity of craft beverages grown and manufactured in Michigan, including sustainable and innovative packaging methods. Proposals with other focus areas will be accepted. Program areas covered: beer, wine, spirits, and hard cider.

MDARD's grantfund index lists the applicants as "Universities, colleges, community colleges, non-profit organizations, trade organizations, for-profit organizations."

For the education grant: eligible entities include educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and government organizations. Educational projects must take place in Michigan and support Michigan growers, Michigan craft beverage producers, or other key stakeholders to Michigan's craft beverage industry. Projects must demonstrate benefit to a group of constituents of Michigan's craft beverage industry, and not to one company or person. Applicants must register as a vendor in SIGMA VSS prior to submitting the application. Entities are limited to one education grant request per calendar year but may be collaborators on other project requests in the same grant application year.

For the research grant: a Principal Investigator submits the proposal; applicants must be in good standing with MDARD and MCBC.

• Maximum research grant request: $40,000 for FY27. Maximum education grant request: $5,000.

• Research project activity dates: February 2027 – August 2028. This request for proposals is contingent upon an approved State of Michigan FY27 budget.

• Reimbursement grant — funds are dispersed at completion of the project after financial review (education). Equipment and analytical purchases require invoices and proof of payment.

• Research reporting: an interim report and invoice due to the Grant Administrator October 5, 2027 (covering award notification – September 30, 2027); a final report (final technical report, abstract of 100 words maximum, and final performance report) plus final billing due by August 30, 2028.

• Unallowable expenses: tuition, administrative and operating costs (research); alcohol purchases and course/college tuition (education).

• Matching funds: existing and pending matching support must be listed on the budget sheet; projects with matching financial support will receive greater consideration.

• Review: proposals are reviewed by a committee composed of industry professionals and evaluated on alignment with Council priorities, project soundness and methodology, engagement and broad industry impact (not benefiting one company or person), innovation, measurable outcomes and information delivery, applicant good standing with MDARD and MCBC, team qualifications, and budget reasonableness. Application does not guarantee award.

Complete the applicable FY27 guidelines/application document (Research Grant Guidelines and Application, or Education Grant Guidelines and Application) and consult the MCBC FY27 research and education priorities document.

Research proposals: sections I through VIII must total no more than six pages. Required content: proposal cover sheet, problem statement (naming the MCBC research priority addressed), project scope/context, literature review, specific objectives and hypotheses, methods and procedures, impacts expected, budget and match funds (using the attached budget template), and letters of support from craft beverage industry or other industry partners (which do not count toward the page maximum).

Education requests are due October 9, 2026, 3:00 p.m. to MDARD-CraftBev@michigan.gov. The program page's timeline for the FY27 round: request for proposals released September 3, 2026; proposals due October 9, 2026 at 3pm EST; joint evaluation committee meeting December 2026; award funding announced January 2027 (education awardees notified February 2027).

Questions: Jenelle Jagmin, Craft Beverage Program Manager, JagminJ@michigan.gov, 517-930-0696, or MDARD-CraftBev@michigan.gov.

• MCBC FY27 research and education priorities (PDF)

• Michigan Craft Beverage Council

• MDARD grant recipients dashboard

• Previous recipients: FY2025, FY2024, FY2023, FY2022, FY2021, FY2020 and FY2019 grant recipient lists are posted on the program page.

• Sign up for email updates about Michigan agriculture grants