MDARD Awards Over $1.8 Million for Projects That Create Jobs, Boost Local Agriculture Businesses

Grants will fund 26 projects to retain, attract, expand or develop ag processing in Michigan

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today awarded over $1.8 million of Underserved, Value Added and Regional Food System Grants to 26 Michigan producers, processors and community development organizations.

"This grant program is just one example of how MDARD improves quality of life for Michiganders by bolstering the food systems and agriculture businesses that sustain our health and prosperity," said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "Today's grants are strategic investments that will enhance the production and delivery of locally grown foods while creating more than 100 jobs across the state. We're proud to support these businesses in delivering for their communities."

Following a rigorous application and review process, MDARD awarded Underserved, Value Added and Regional Food System Grants to the following 26 entities:

Mid-Michigan

• Angus Cattle Co. LLC (Laingsburg) $100,000 for establishing and operating a fully functional storefront at Angus Cattle Co. that will enable direct interface with consumers and expand sales of locally raised beef and pork. This project will generate one full-time and three part-time jobs.
• The Cut Custom Processing LLC (Rosebush) $73,500 for installing commercial dry aging and curing equipment to enable the production of high-quality, value-added beef and pork products. This project will generate two full-time and two part-time jobs.

Northern Michigan

• Bear Creek Organics LLC (Petoskey) $82,910 for expanding refrigerated transportation and refrigerated cold storage capacity to support current and future business demand and increase farmer access to new markets. This project will generate two full-time and four part-time jobs.
• Boss Dairy Farms Inc., which does business as Charlevoix Cheese Company (Charlevoix) $94,042 for purchasing automated cheese-cutting equipment and packaging supplies to expand cheese processing and keep up with demand. This project will generate one full-time and one part-time job.
• By the Light of Day (Traverse City) $68,528 for purchasing equipment critical to the efficient mechanization to grow and produce the highest quality herbs, flowers and fruit, immediately improving efficiency by 75 percent, expand production volume by 60 percent. This project will generate two full-time and two part-time jobs.
• DeBacker Family Dairy, LLC (Menominee) - $50,095 for expanding its on-farm bottling operation in Menominee County. The project will increase bottling capacity from nine to 24 heads, allowing the farm to produce labeled 8-ounce milk bottles for schools and institutions across the Upper Peninsula. This project will generate three full-time and two part-time jobs.

Southeast Michigan

• Ghost Acre Farm (Detroit) $100,000 for building a new washing and packing facility for harvested crops that includes processing, lockable tool storage and refrigeration. This project will generate one full-time and three part-time jobs.
• Give and Grow Mushrooms, LLC (Chesterfield) $12,475 for increasing the scale of their current Maitake mushroom growing operations and expanding into value added food processing. This project will generate two full-time jobs.
• Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, Inc (Ann Arbor) $48,500 for purchasing a large blast chiller for their kitchen to process and flash freeze large amounts of locally grown produce for their Meals On Wheels and Medically Tailored Meal programs.
• The Lindsay Street Greenbelt Collective (Detroit) $45,600 for creating an outdoor farm market improve residents access to fresh, locally grown foods. This project could create up to 20 part-time jobs over the next three years.
• Mother of Pearl Design LLC (Detroit) $100,000 for completing their studio, including electrical and plumbing work, walk-in cooler installation, storage and lighting, and space to host public workshops on floral design, seed starting, and herbal preparation. This project will generate one full-time and three part-time jobs.
• Samit & Sajid Qurbani House (Hamtramck) $84,000 for completing critical installations, expansions and health and safety improvements required for USDA inspection. This project will create four full-time and three part-time jobs.
• Sanctuary Farms (Detroit) $99,952 for purchasing equipment and funding pre-development activities to increasing compost production capacity and distribution and support a more resilient, community-centered food system in Southeast Michigan. This project will generate two full-time and three part-time jobs.
• Washtenaw Meats LLC (Ann Arbor) $85,674 for consolidating inventory, increasing storage and improving order fulfillment to better serve small Michigan livestock producers and buyers. This project will generate two part-time jobs.

Southwest Michigan

• Berry Delicious Farms, Inc (Covert) $100,000 for enhancing post-harvest cold storage for small and mid-sized growers, thereby ensuring reliable market access for locally grown produce. This project will generate two full-time and five part-time jobs.
• Brumfield Angus Farms (Sawyer) $22,400 for developing a walk-in freezer facility as part of their new registered Angus beef processing operation. This project will generate one full-time job.
• Carriage House Ciders, LLC (Benton Harbor) $36,845 for finding a larger facility and buying the necessary equipment to double production capacity over the next three years to more than 4,000 gallons. This project will generate one full-time and three part-time jobs.
• Coco & Catrina Farms LLC (Covert) $99,170 for upgrading their packing line to handle more fruit directly at the farm during peak harvest, reducing pressure on regional packing facilities and keeping the local supply chain moving. This project will generate one full-time and four part-time jobs.
• DeGrandchamp Blueberry Farms, Inc. (South Haven) $100,000 for strengthening Michigan's agriculture community; increasing demand for Michigan-grown blueberries, cranberries and other specialty crops; expanding market opportunities for local growers; and serving as a replicable model for direct-to-consumer farm operations. This project will generate two full-time and eight part-time jobs.
• Fluffy Butt Farms LLC (Battle Creek) $69,924 for expanding their state-licensed, on-farm poultry processing facility and enhancing direct-to-consumer marketing by acquiring key equipment and developing branding materials. This project will generate one part-time job.
• Old Europe Cheese (Benton Harbor) $76,662 for the design, production and implementation of new molds necessary to manufacture 14-ounce and 5-ounce soft ripened brie cheeses. This project will generate four full-time jobs.
• Park Street Market (Kalamazoo) $100,000 for investing in food processing equipment to offer a broader array of fresh meat and produce to the community. This project will generate five full-time and ten part-time jobs.

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• Stony Croft Farms (Lapeer) $44,413 for installing new milling equipment that will increase the farms value-added grain production capacity and meet growing customer demand for locally milled grain products. This project will generate one full-time and one part-time job.

West Michigan

• Green Wagon Farm (Ada) $100,000 for constructing three movable hoop houses needed for climate-resilient growing space. This project will generate two full-time jobs.
• Lakeshore Food Club (Hart) $42,000 for increasing local food distribution to schools and food assistance programs in Mason, Lake and Oceana counties; enhancing food access for food-insecure populations in the three-county service area; and increasing the volume and variety of state-sourced foods distributed to food-insecure populations. This project will generate two full-time and four part-time jobs.
• Plainsong Farm & Ministry (Rockford) $42,500 for infrastructure investments that will extend the farm s growing season and increase food storage capacity, thereby increasing underserved families access to healthy food and related educational programming. This project will generate one part-time job.

Underserved, Value Added and Regional Food System Grants help:

• Retain, expand, attract or develop agricultural processing in Michigan,
• Support traditionally underserved businesses,
• Improve value-added agricultural processing, and
• Strengthen area supply chains and regional food systems.

Since Fiscal Year 2019, MDARD has awarded more than $11.2 million of Underserved, Value Added and Regional Food System Grants. The grants were part of more than $184 million of investments MDARD delivered over the past seven years to help Michigan communities create jobs, build infrastructure and promote agricultural development.

For more information about this program and to find out when future funding will become available, please visit MDARD's website.

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