Agency: Agriculture and Rural Development

For Immediate Release: October 21, 2016 Media Contact: Jessy Sielski, 517-331-1151 

Lansing—Today, the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development announced a competitive grant program aimed at helping promote and enhance Michigan’s $101.2 billion food and agriculture industry. The Value-Added Grant Program is accepting abstract grant proposals until 3 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, November 17, 2016. Proposals received after 3 p.m. will not be considered.

MDARD is accepting proposals intended to help expand value-added agricultural processing and food hub development in the state as well as access to fresh nutritional Michigan grown foods. Those interested in applying should visit www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants to view the abstract application and program overview.

The grant will be awarded in a maximum amount of $150,000 and require a minimum 30 percent match. The value-added abstract proposals will be evaluated through a competitive process. Applicants for grant funds will be asked to describe how the project both has the potential to impact and produce measurable outcomes for the state’s food and agriculture industry.

MDARD has updated the process for this cost-reimbursement grant program by implementing a required abstract; and if projects are favorably reviewed, applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal in December 2016.

Any additional communications concerning this Request for Proposal should be sent to mda-grants@michigan.gov. Abstract proposals must be received via email at mda-grants@michigan.gov no later than 3 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, November 17, 2016.  Proposals received after 3 p.m. will not be considered.

For more information on MDARD’s grant programs, go to www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants.

 

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