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MDARD will accept applications for Underserved, Value-Added, Regional Food Systems and Supply Chain Grants now through 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
This MDARD grant program supports value-added agricultural processing businesses and community organizations, including traditionally underserved groups, as they:
- Expand value-added agriculture production and processing
- Enhance regional food systems
- Promote access to healthy foods
The maximum grant award is $100,000 per proposal. Applicants must provide a 30 percent match or a reduced 15 percent match available for underserved entities; self-certification is required for underserved applicants.
All applications for Underserved, Value-Added, Regional Food Systems and Supply Chain Grants must be submitted through the MiAgGrants system. Interested applicants should visit the grant program webpage for additional details.
MDARD encourages prospective applicants to attend an informational webinar from 10 – 11:30 a.m. ET on March 11, 2026 via the Microsoft Teams virtual platform. Registration for the webinar is not required.
For more information about MDARD’s grant programs, visit the MDARD Grants webpage.
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Success Story
Great Lakes Malting Company (GLMC) is an independently owned malt house in Traverse City. Since 2016, the company has produced and supplied an assortment of malted grains to the brewing and distilling industries across the Midwest. Their mission is to supply the highest quality malt while providing unmatched service and a commitment to supporting local agriculture.
In 2022, GLMC received a $40,000 Food and Agriculture Investment Program Grant (FAIP) from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). GLMC used the $40,000 from the FAIP grant to purchase equipment necessary to meet the escalating demand for locally produced and malted grains within the Michigan craft beverage industry. With the added equipment, the company immediately doubled their production capacity from 200 to 400 tons per year. This expansion solidified GLMC’s position in a supply chain that connects Michigan-grown grains supplied by regenerative agriculture practitioners with craft beverage makers throughout the state.
“Michigan breweries and distilleries deserve the finest Michigan-grown ingredients. That’s why we at Great Lakes Malting Company are proud to be their connection to Malt That Matters,” said Jeff Malkiewicz, Founder, Great Lakes Malting Company.
Going forward, GLMC hopes to become a pillar of regional leadership. After the initial project, the company completed a follow-on expansion which significantly increased their production volume and capability to over 1.5 million pounds of grain annually. That investment positions GLMC as a premier craft malting company in the Great Lakes region. They hope to work with MDARD in the future to continue growing the reach of their business and the craft beverage industry in Michigan.
For more information on how MDARD can help your business, visit the Economic Development webpage.
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Craft beverage companies registered for the Michigan Craft Beverage Summit are encouraged to apply for the buyer/supplier matchmaking event taking place on Wednesday afternoon, March 25. This event is an excellent opportunity to get Michigan craft beverage products in front of restaurant and retail buyers! The deadline for applying with a chance to participate is March 11. Application does not guarantee buyer meetings. Supplier Application (participation requires paid conference registration).
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International Marketing
Looking for an opportunity to meet more international buyers? Register today for Food Export’s buyers missions at the Sweets and Snacks Expo and/or the National Restaurant Association Show. Buyers missions are a great way to meet international buyers from around the world without the international travel.
The Sweets and Snacks buyers mission will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 18-20, 2026. The buyers mission features buyers representing 20 different international markets including the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, and Australia. Products of interest for this buyers mission are:
- Savory snacks,
- Confectionery products,
- Salty snacks,
- And more.
Early registration is $175 and closes on Friday, March 13, 2026. All products of interest, buyer profiles, and registration information is available on the Sweets and Snacks Buyers Mission webpage.
The Foodservice buyers mission at the National Restaurant Association Show will take place in Chicago, Illinois, May 15-17, 2026. This buyers mission features buyers representing over 15 international markets including the Dominican Republic, India, and Vietnam. Products of interest for this buyers mission are:
- Bakery/bakery ingredient products,
- Beverages,
- Dairy and related products,
- Snacks,
- And more.
Early registration is $175 and closes on Friday, March 13, 2026. All products of interest, buyer profiles, and registration is available on the Foodservice Buyers Mission at the National Restaurant Association Show webpage.
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Do you know a high school senior or recent graduate who participates in Michigan livestock exhibitions? Encourage them to apply for Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund (MYLSF) awards now through May 3!
MYSLF awards help support the educational pursuits of outstanding young Michiganders who have exhibited at premier livestock events in our state.
Prospective applicants may apply for either a MYSLF scholarship of up to $5,000 or for a state-wide scholarship of up to $1,000. To be eligible for these scholarships, the applicant must be:
- A graduating high school senior or a high school graduate continuing their education at an accredited institution in the year in which they are applying.
An applicant for the MYLSF scholarship must also have been a youth exhibitor at the Michigan Livestock Expo or the Michigan Dairy Expo for a minimum of three calendar years prior to the year of application. For the state-wide scholarship, an applicant must be a youth exhibitor at a local, county or state-wide exhibition for a minimum of three years prior to the year of application.
Applications and qualification requirements are located on the Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund web page. For more information, please email MDARD Commodity Section Manager Jeff Haarer or email Sheila Burkhardt, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at the Michigan Milk Producers Association.
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In February, MDARD announced the recipients of the 2025 Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund (MYLSF) awards.
Since 2000, the MYLSF has awarded $916,055 in scholarships and educational awards to outstanding youth who have exhibited at premier livestock events in Michigan. In 2025, the fund disbursed $62,000 of scholarships to 39 Michigan students.
In addition to the awards above, approximately $14,000 of “Sale-Abration” proceeds were deposited into the Michigan Education Saving Plans for youth exhibitors who compete in judging and showmanship events at the Michigan Livestock Expo on the Michigan State University campus.
For more information on these scholarship opportunities and to view the full list of 2025 recipients, visit the MYLSF webpage.
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Industry News
MDARD congratulates Michigan grower Ben Sklarczyk on his election as president of the National Potato Council. Ben was officially installed during the 2026 National Potato Council (NPC) Washington Summit on February 23, 2026.
A third-generation producer and owner of Sklarczyk Seed Farm in Johannesburg, MI, Ben and his wife, Alison, operate a leading hydroponic seed potato business. The farm earned an MDARD Food and Agriculture Investment Program Grant, received an MDARD Rural Development Fund Grant, and was Michigan's 2019 Agriculture Exporter of the Year.
Ben purchased the family farm 10 years ago from his father, who also served as NPC president in 2007. View more details online.
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