Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)

Potential projects for consideration go through an application process with the MDARD Economic Development team member for their region. 
Find the contact information for your region using the map on this page.

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. Projects are selected based on their impact to the overall agriculture industry and their impact to food and agriculture growth and investment in Michigan.



- Small, medium, and large food, agriculture, and forest product companies.
- Others investing in or expanding food, agriculture, or forest products operations in Michigan. 

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

- Brochure
- Regional Contacts
- Interactive Dashboard: MDARD Food and Agriculture Investment Program

Farmers Market

Food Systems

The Food and Agriculture Investment Program is a performance-based grant. Companies or organizations put forward their investment plan, demonstrate fnancing and due diligence on the project, carry out the project, and submit a reimbursement amount per the grant agreement when the investment project is completed.

Submit your proposal via email to mda-grants@michigan.gov. Confirmation emails are manually sent, so you will not receive an instant confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation of receipt from within 48 hours, please call 517-284-5734.

Heather Throne

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development provides grant opportunities to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure that benefits rural communities.  



- Individuals
- Organizations
- Businesses
- Local Units of Government (county, city, township, village, school district; any authority composed of counties, cities, townships, villages and school districts or combination of these entities) 
- Federally Recognized Tribes
- Educational Institutions 

Projects are eligible if they benefit an Eligible Rural Community or Micropolitan Statistical Areas: See the program guidelines for a full list of eligible areas.

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

- 2023 Rural Development Grant Application
- 2023 Rural Development Fund Grant Guidelines
- Rural Development Fund Fact Sheet
- Rural Development Fund Grants Informational Brochure
- Interactive Dashboard: MDARD Rural Development Grant Program

- The maximum limit on grant fund requests is $100,000. The total allotment for funding is approximately $1.74 million.
- Applicants must provide a minimum 30% match.
- This grant is a cost reimbursement program. Grantees are responsible for costs until proper reports/invoices/receipts are received and reviewed. Grantees are required to show proof of payment. 
- Grantees will be eligible for reimbursement up to three (3) times, at specified dates, during the 18-month grant cycle, with the final reimbursement provided at the completion of the project. 
- Each grantee will be required to submit written reports and appropriate financial documentation to MDARD for payment. Grantees may also be required to report on the outcomes and impact of their grant for a period of time (up to three years) after the grant period ends. 
- All Grantees must be registered and in good standing with the LARA Corporations Division, register here Corporations Division - Login Page 


For more information about this opportunity, please contact MDARD-FertResearch-Grants@Michigan.gov.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) provides grant opportunities to promote knowledge of fertilizer use and environmental protection. The grants are used to address fertilizer rate recommendations, application and fate of fertilizer to maximize issues around crop production and quality as well as protecting the natural environment. 



Weeds

Air Quality

Carbon Capture

Certification

High Tunnel

Landscape

Regenerative

Soil Health

Wildlife & Pollinator Habitat

Trials

Certified Organic

Certified Grassfed

Cover Crops

Reduced Tillage

Inputs

Nutrient Management

Assemble the following documents and submit them electronically to MDARD-SeafoodRelief@michigan.gov
- Completed application document (below). 
- Documentation that supports the eligible program expenditure. Including but not limited to dated, official expenditure receipts, photographs, narrative descriptions, other supporting documentation. 
MDARD may request other records after application submission.

Nate Engel

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is seeking applications for the Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block&#x2004;Grant program to support the seafood processing sector. Funded through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, this program provides relief and assistance to eligible seafood processing facilities and processing vessels in response to the ongoing impacts from COVID-19. The grants will provide cost reimbursement for eligible expenditures that occurred between January 27, 2020, and December 31, 2021.

Grant funding can be used to cover the activities associated with: 

- Workplace Safety Measures

- Market Pivots

- Retrofitting Facilities

- Transportation

- Worker Housing

- Medical Costs



The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is seeking applications for the Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant program to support the seafood processing sector. Funded through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, this program provides relief and assistance to eligible seafood processing facilities and processing vessels in response to the ongoing impacts from COVID-19. The grants will provide cost reimbursement for eligible expenditures that occurred between January 27, 2020, and December 31, 2021.
Grant funding can be used to cover the activities associated with: 
- Workplace Safety Measures
- Market Pivots
- Retrofitting Facilities
- Transportation
- Worker Housing
- Medical Costs

Eligible applicants are MDARD-licensed seafood processing facilities and processing vessels, including at-sea processors or dealers. Qualified beneficiary definitions include: 
Processor
The owner, operator, dealer, or agent responsible for any activity that changes the physical condition of a fisheries resource suitable for human consumption, retail sale, industrial use, or long-term storage, including cooking, canning, smoking, salting, drying, shucking, filleting, freezing, or rendering into meal or oil. Any owner, operator, dealer, or agent exclusively gutting, gilling, heading, or icing seafood without performing any of the above activities is NOT considered a processor eligible for payments under this award;  
At-Sea Processor
A vessel or other platform that floats and can be moved from one location to another, whether in State waters or water of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), receiving fish and operating as a processor;  
Dealer
An entity that first receives fish by way of purchase and sells directly to restaurants, markets, other dealers, processors, or consumers without substantially altering the product.

Aquaculture

Aquatic Plants

Seafood

Eels

Fish

Shellfish

Atka Mackerel

Carp

Catfish

Flounder

Goosefish

Herring

Hybrid Striped Bass

Largemouth Bass

Ornamental Fish

Pacific Cod

Pacific Ocean Perch

Pollock

Recreational Sportfish

Red Drum

Sablefish

Salmon

Sole

Sturgeon

Tilapia

Trout

Tuna

Turbot

Crustaceans

Crab

Dungeness Crab

King Crab

Snow Crab

Southern Tanner Crab

Crayfish

Lobster

Molluscs

Geoduck

Squid

Distribution

Diversification

Events

Trade Show

Trade Relief

Public Health

Compliance

Make sure you are registered with the required organizations:
- The Vendor Self Serve system with the State of Michigan. Registration can be completed here: http://www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS 
- The LARA Corporations Division. Registration can be completed here: Corporations Division - Login Page

Download the application below and submit via one email to mda-grants@michigan.gov. Include in the subject line the name of your organization. If you do not receive a confirmation of receipt from our office after 48 hours, please call 517-614-7065.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development provides 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.



Funding will be focused on the following types of projects: 
- Food hub development
- Food access, including access to fresh/nutritional foods 
- Value-added food processing Innovation and equipment
- Technical assistance, including feasibility studies that lead to jobs/investment
- Outreach and training 

- FY23 Value-Added and Regional Food Systems Grant Program Application
- FY23 Value-Added and Regional Food Systems Grant Program Guidelines
- FY23 Value-Added and Regional Food Systems Grant Program Fact Sheet
- Value-Added and Regional Food Systems Grant Program Informational Brochure

Local Food

Nutrition & Food Safety

- Grants will be awarded a maximum amount of $100,000. Please submit applications in whole dollar amounts and round to the nearest $100.
- Applicants must provide a minimum 30% match. Cash match is required, and in-kind contributions will not be counted as part of the required match. 
- Only one proposal per applicant will be considered. Your organization may be a partner on more than one application. 
- If you have received a MDARD Value Added & Regional Food Systems Grant in the last two years, you are not eligible for this grant round. 
- Up to 10% Administrative Cost is allowed if the grantee is a non-profit. Administrative costs are the grantee’s allowable direct costs for the overall management of the grant. 
- All applicants must be registered as a vendor in the Vendor Self Serv system with the State of Michigan prior to submitting an application. Registration can be completed here: http://www.michigan.gov/SIGMAVSS 
- This grant is a cost-reimbursement program. Grantees are responsible for costs until proper reports/invoices/receipts are received and reviewed. 
- Each grantee will be required to submit written reports and appropriate financial documentation to MDARD for payment. Grantees may also be required to report on the outcomes and impact of their grant for a period of time (up to three years) after the grant period ends.
- All Grantees must be registered and in good standing with the LARA Corporations Division, register here: Corporations Division - Login Page. 

List of Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Funding Opportunities