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The Michigan Commission on Agriculture and Rural Development approved $400,000 in Food and Agriculture Investment Program (FAIP) grants to Hildebrand Fruit, LLC and the City of Oak Park . The funding, awarded by MDARD, will allow the businesses to build and expand their facilities, increase capacity and create four full-time and five part-time positions.
FAIP is an important part of Michigan’s economic development. The grant program offers financial support for projects that expand food and agriculture processing, enable growth in the agriculture industry and bolster Michigan’s economy. MDARD’s selection process is based on high and consistent criteria that include the project’s potential to impact the overall agriculture industry as well as food and agriculture growth and investment in the state.
Since Fiscal Year 2019, MDARD has awarded more than $5.7 million in FAIP grants. The grants are part of more than $184 million MDARD delivered over the past seven years to help local communities build infrastructure, promote agricultural prosperity, ensure food safety and create jobs.
Read more about the Food and Agriculture Investment Program.
Watch coverage from News Channel 3.
Learn more about MDARD grants.
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Earlier this month, MDARD awarded nearly $342,000 under the Farm to Family Program to seven Michigan businesses and non-profits that operate as farm stops, which give Michigan farmers and consumers more opportunities to buy and sell locally. The farms stop grants complement more than $360,000 of grants MDARD awarded to Michigan food hubs in May to strengthen the state’s middle-of-the-supply-chain agri-food systems.
The seven farm stops who received grants are:
- Ark Companies - $50,000 – Charlotte, MI
- Boulangerie 9 LLC - $49,000 – Suttons Bay, MI
- Barry Community Foundation - $50,000 – Hastings, MI
- Coveyou Scenic Farm - $48,594 – Petoskey, MI
- Lakeview Hill Organic Farm LLC - $49,992 – Traverse City, MI
- Lively Holdings, LLC - $50,000 – Maple City, MI
- YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids – $44,000 – Grand Rapids, MI
Watch how a Farm Stop Grant is helping a butcher startup in Charlotte.
Learn more about MDARD’s Food Hubs and Farm Stops Grant Program.
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International Marketing
Michigan Companies Find Sweet Success at the Sweets and Snacks Expo
Indianapolis, IN | May 12-15, 2025
MDARD’s International Marketing program hosted a Michigan Pavilion of six Michigan companies in May at the Sweets and Snacks Expo in Indianapolis, IN. Featured products in the Michigan pavilion were jaw dropping jerky, delicious and savory dried tart cherries, snack worthy potato chips and pita chips, popable popcorn, and tasty cheese puffs.
Five Michigan companies participated in Food Export’s Buyers Mission at the show, which featured buyers from 17 international markets.
Show Results:
- Immediate Domestic Sales: $470,000
- Immediate Export Sales: $182,500
- Projected Domestic Sales (12 months): $1,080,000
- Projected Export Sales (12 months): $345,000
- Total New Buyer Leads: 139 (95 domestic, 44 export)
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National Restaurant Association Show Continues to Deliver for Michigan Companies
Chicago, IL | May 17-20, 2025
MDARD’s International Marketing program hosted a Michigan Pavilion of eight Michigan companies in May at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, IL. Innovative products like mushroom-only burger patties, fresh local asparagus, premium dried tart cherries, artisan toffee, small-batch hummus, authentic gyros, handcrafted brittle, and locally sourced specialty oils were featured in the pavilion.
Four Michigan companies participated in Food Export’s Buyers Mission at the show, which featured buyers from 15 international markets.
Show Results:
- Immediate Domestic Sales: $1,488,063
- Immediate Export Sales: $570,000
- Projected Domestic Sales (12 months): $3,460,000
- Projected Export Sales (12 months): $635,000
- Total New Buyer Leads: 701 (640 domestic, 61 export)
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Michigan Companies ‘Bring Home the Bacon’ on More Than $2 Million in Projected Sales from the Summer Fancy Food Show
Eight Michigan companies exhibited in the Michigan Pavilion organized by MDARD’s International Marketing Program at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York! Michigan products at the show ranged from granola and popcorn to crepes and gourmet syrups and sauces to everything in between.
The Summer Fancy Food Show in NYC is the industry's premier product discovery event, offering a curated showcase of high-quality, artisan products in more than 40 categories—and an invaluable preview of where consumers' needs, wants, and values are headed. From today's demands for gluten-free and vegan alternatives to emerging trends like swicy (sweet and spicy) drinks to protein-centric snacks, this Show has it all.
Show results:
- Projected Domestic Sales (12 months): $1.82 million
- Projected Export Sales (12 months): $545,000
- Domestic and international buyer leads: 310+
For more information about MDARD’s International Marketing Program, contact the team at MDARD-AgD@Michigan.gov.
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The applications for Food Export's Branded Program opened on August 1, 2025. The Branded Program is a 50 percent cost reimbursement program for companies that are actively exporting or looking to start selling into international markets. The program funds can help companies with website development, foreign market-compliant packaging and labeling, advertising and public relations, promotions and product demos, trade show fees and more!
For more information and how to apply, visit the Food Export website or reach out to our team at MDARD-AgD@Michigan.gov.
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MDARD and the Michigan Craft Beverage Council (MCBC) launched “Michigan Crafted,” a new consumer-facing brand that celebrates and elevates the state’s craft beverage industry.
The MCBC’s Michigan Crafted kickoff arrived just in time for the tourism season, when the state’s craft beverage destinations are the most vibrant and visitors are actively searching for authentic experiences. The new brand builds momentum toward November’s Craft Beverage Month celebrations.
The brand launch is part of a campaign that will include advertising, special events and social media to build a solid foundation with Michigan audiences in 2025. Next year, the brand will extend to reach audiences across the United States.
For more information, visit MiCrafted.com.
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Industry Opportunities
Join the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center for a webinar on Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. ET on Zoom to help prepare your farm business for upcoming grant applications.
The webinar will feature Andy Larson, Food Finance Institute of the Universities of Wisconsin System, and Jamie Rahrig, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, who together have a combined over 40 years of experience supporting food and farm businesses. They will share how cash flow can be used to help farmers prepare for grant funding application requiring cost-share.
For more information visit the Center for Regional Food Systems website.
Register now on the Michigan State University website.
Michigan dairy businesses may apply for Dairy Business Builder Grants from the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA) now through September 30. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) joined the federal DBIA program in September 2022.
Dairy Business Builder Grants help small- to medium-sized dairy farmers, entrepreneurs, and processors in the Midwest fund projects such as dairy farm diversification, on-farm processing, value-added product creation, and efforts to market dairy products for export. Through previous funding rounds, 14 Michigan companies have been awarded.
An informational webinar recording will be available on the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance website. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. (CT) on September 30, 2025.
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