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Heather Throne
Grant and Commodity Program Manager, Agriculture Development Division
As we enter February, our team has a new Value Added and Regional Food Systems (MDARD - Value Added & Regional Food Systems Grants (michigan.gov)) grant opportunity. The request for proposals opened on February 2, 2023. This program is designed to help retain, expand, attract, or develop agricultural processing in Michigan through targeted investments in technology and equipment, feasibility studies, healthy food access, regional food systems, and urban agriculture. Other key dates for the grant include:
- An informational webinar on February 9, 2023.
- Applications are due by April 4, 2023, by 3 p.m.
The value-added proposals are evaluated through a competitive selection process. The awarded grants will be announced in July of 2023. We also have additional grant rounds available:
A full list of grants offered by MDARD can be found at www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants. Contact us at MDAgrants@michigan.gov with any questions on our upcoming grants.
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Michigan Craft Beverage Council
 The Michigan Craft Beverage Council supports a hard-working, collaborative industry with deep agricultural roots. We provide resources and opportunities that connect growers and producers, reinforcing Michigan as a world-class craft beverage destination.
Industry-led and engaged, the Michigan Craft Beverage Council works collectively to guide important research and promote the growth of this connected, vibrant industry.
Questions? Contact: Jenelle Jagmin, Director, Michigan Craft Beverage Council
Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
517-930-0696 | JagminJ@Michigan.gov
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Heather Throne, Grant and Commodity Program Manager
Heather oversees a large portfolio of grants, including Value Add & Regional Food Systems, Specialty Crop Block Grant, Food and Ag Investment Fund, and Rural Development. Heather also represents the Division with Commodity Checkoff groups.
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Amy Bearss, Grant Analyst
Amy Bearss is a Grant Analyst with Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. She has more than 30 years of administrative support experience working for various departments in the State of Michigan, as well as legal secretarial work for the state and a private law firm.
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Sherri Goodreau, Grant Analyst
Sherri is a Grant Analyst with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. She has more than 15 years' experience with MDARD.
Sherri started within MDARD as a field worker for the Emerald Ash Borer Project, then moved to a program assistant with the former Grape & Wine Industry Council and is currently with the Grants Team. As an analyst, she assists with the administration/financial reviews of the grant funding programs within the Agriculture Development Division: The USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant, the Rural Development Fund Board Grant Program, Value Added Regional Food Systems grants, Michigan Craft Beverage Grant. She is also the contract administrator for the department.
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Sasha Eliason, Grant and Commodity Assistant
Sasha joined the MDARD team in 2022 as an assistant for the Grant and Commodity section. She works closely with ongoing grants and with the legislatively established commodity groups. Sasha grew up in the small town of Westphalia, she was very involved in Clinton County 4-H and track and field. After graduating high school, she attended Michigan State University and received a certificate in Agriculture and Dairy Management. In her spare time, she enjoys hunting, fishing, attending rodeos, and being with family.
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The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), a partnership between the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, announced 31 companies and cooperatives receiving $2.4 million in grants with six Michigan companies among those chosen.
Selected businesses include Charlevoix Cheese Company, Furniture City Creamery in Grand Rapids, Saltless Sea Creamery in Traverse City, Semifreddo LLC in Hart, Thistle Dew Creamery in Vassar, and VernDale Products Inc., located in Detroit.
The next grant round will open on February 20, 2023, with a webinar on February 21. MDARD is continuing to encourage the dairy industry to apply for these new grant opportunities.
Read the entire press release here.
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International Marketing Update
 Hello from the International Marketing Department! We hope your 2023 is off to a great start.
Many of you whom we’ve been in contact with have created accounts on Michigan Agriculture Export Reports (miagexport.com). We love that you made an account to help grow your business, it makes it easier for us to help you! With that, it is crucial that you keep your company profile up to date. Please sign into MIAgExport and select “Company Profile” in the upper right corner, then make the necessary edits. Doing this allows us to better help you in marketing your company’s products to domestic and international buyers. Thank you!
If you have not made an account, please do! MichiganAgExport is a great way to identify key and upcoming export markets, view consumer trends, gather historical and forecasted consumption data, and identify key trends in the trade landscape. In addition to that, you can see an updated list of events that you could participate in with the help of the International Marketing Program at MDARD. Our goal is to help develop trade opportunities by connecting Michigan food and agricultural companies with international buyers, and MIAgExport helps us do that.
Questions? Contact: MDARD-AgD@michigan.gov
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Grants & Funding Opportunities
 Michigan’s apple producers have an opportunity to vote on whether to continue the Michigan Apple Advertising and Promotion Program for an additional five years as well as proposed changes to the program. The referendum, conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) will begin Monday, February 13, 2023, through Friday, February 24, 2023.
Ballots will be mailed by MDARD to Michigan apple producers of record. Eligible producers with questions, or those not receiving a ballot, should contact MDARD toll-free at 800-292-3939.
Read the rest of the announcement here.
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2023 Making It In Michigan
Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) and the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) are excited to partner with the MSU Product Center on the 2023 Making It In Michigan event on Thursday, April 20th, hosted at the Lansing Center. During the event, we will be providing buyer-supplier matchmaking and would like to invite your organization to participate. Through matchmaking, we are looking to bring together purchasers including grocers, retailers, distributors, institutional buyers, or others looking to procure Michigan-made food and beverage products, with suppliers from around the state.
For additional information on the Matchmaking at Making It In Michigan event, including buyer and supplier forms, please visit https://pmbc.connect.space/2023-making-it-in-michigan-buyer-supplier-matchmaking/details.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announced a request for proposals through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Ag Marketing Services.
The program is designed to enhance the competitiveness of Michigan’s specialty crops. Grant proposals must be emailed to MDARD at MDA-grants@michigan.gov by 3:00 p.m. on February 28, 2023.
Learn more about Specialty Crop Block Grants.
The International Marketing Program is busy working on our upcoming trade shows.
The National Restaurant Association Show is being held May 20-23, 2023 at McCormick Place. Every trend, solution and category of restaurant and foodservice industry will be in attendance. If you are interested in exhibiting at the Michigan Pavilion, please contact Holly Henrickson at henricksonh@michigan.gov.
In addition to the National Restaurant Association Show the International Marketing Program will be attend the Sweets and Snacks Expo. If you are looking for more information on the Sweets and Snacks Expo or the buyers mission at the Sweets and Snacks Expo contact Elissa Mutschler at mutschlere@michigan.gov.
Value Added & Regional Food System Grants
Now open
Making it in Michigan
April 20,2023 | Lansing, MI
DBIA Dairy Business Builder Grant
Opens February 20, 2023
National Restaurant Association Show
May 20-23, 2023 | Chicago, IL
*Contact MDARD-AgD@michigan.gov for details*
Sweets & Snacks Expo
May 22-25, 2023 | Chicago, IL
*SOLD OUT*
Summer Fancy Food Show
June 25-27, 2023 | New York City, New York
*Contact MDARD-AgD@michigan.gov for details*
Trade Mission to Canada for Specialty and Natural Products
September 6-7, 2023 | Toronto, ON, Canada
*Contact MDARD-AgD@michigan.gov for details*
ANUGA Food Show
October 7-11, 2023 | Cologne, Germany
*Contact MDARD-AgD@michigan.gov for details*
Global Produce & Floral Show
October 19-21, 2023 | Anaheim, California
*Contact MDARD-AgD@michigan.gov for details*
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Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Agriculture Development Division
MDARD-AgD@Michigan.gov
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