MDARD Awards Nearly $300K of Grants to Boost Food Safety Education in Michigan

LANSING, Mich.-The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today announced more than $286,000 of Food Safety Education Fund grants for six entities across Michigan.

"Food safety is a cornerstone of community health," said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "Through the Food Safety Education Fund, MDARD is investing in projects that will promote safe food practices, help secure our food supply chain and protect the health and well-being of Michigan families."

Following a competitive review process, MDARD is awarding Food Safety Education Fund grants to:

• Brightmoor Artisans Collective - $10,534 to provide food safety workshops for Detroit-based urban growers and backyard poultry keepers focused on safely processing homegrown crops and eggs for personal use or cottage food sales.
• Great Lakes Conference on Food Protection - $35,500 for scholarship funding to improve food safety for local health departments and food service establishment employees.
• Kent County Health Department - $9,135 with matching funds of $2,464 to provide training and kits to consumers on food safety in home food preparation to reduce the incidence of foodborne illnesses.
• Michigan Environmental Health Association (MEHA) - $42,500 to provide funding for the MEHA Annual Education Conference (AEC); scholarships for food industry regulators to attend the 2026 MEHA AEC program; support for food protection related training programs offered by regional MEHA affiliates; and funding for two food-related emergency response seminars in 2025-2026.
• Michigan Farmers Market Association - $63,616 for materials and educational resources in English and Spanish to ensure high-quality consumer food safety education that is relevant to community needs.
• Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (three grants) - $47,000, with matching funds of $18,000, to expand and market the Michigan Food Safety website that serves as a statewide hub for food safety education. $42,000, with matching funds of $13,500, to develop and provide comprehensive food safety training for school concession stand volunteers. And $36,100, with matching funds of $15,500, to provide food safety training and sanitation starter kits to small-chain and independent restaurant staff.

The Food Safety Education Fund grant program was established under the Michigan Food Law of 2000, as amended, Sec. 4117, and is funded through assessments of $3.00 to $5.00 from licensing fees paid by Michigan food establishments. The grant program provides food safety training and education to consumers, as well as training and education to food service establishment employees and agents of the MDARD director who enforce Michigan's food regulations.

Since Fiscal Year 2019, MDARD has awarded nearly $2.2 million through the Food Safety Education Fund grant program. 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 improve quality of life for Michiganders.

Food safety resources for consumers and food industry professionals, including materials developed from Food Safety Education Fund grants in previous years, can be found at MDARD's food safety web page. Additional food safety information can be found on the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association's Michigan food safety website.

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