Center for Regional Food Systems Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center

The Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center was originally intended to run for five years through mid- 2028, and was awarded $20 million to coordinate this center with Network Coordinators in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. For regional Tribal support, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture and Food Systems (DAFS), in partnership with the Great Lakes Intertribal Food Coalition (GLIFC), was to  serve Tribal food producers. The Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center was terminated by the USDA on July 15, 2025, with all program activities ending  on September 15,2025. The intent was to offer financial support, assistance, and other coordinated activities for farmers, producers, and food business owners with small- to mid-sized new and established businesses in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.  

Together over these project years, we aimed to cultivate:  

• more thriving small- and mid-sized farms and food businesses,  
• a stronger regional network of service providers who are better able to support these business owners, and   
• collaborations and connections that continued to make food systems in our region stronger and more resilient.  

As set out by the USDA, Regional Food Business Centers  were intended to serve the following three roles:  

1. Coordination: Support strategic planning, formalize network of supply chain stakeholders, coordinate with USDA, collaborate with other Regional Food Business Centers, outreach to underserved communities and businesses.  
2. Technical Assistance: Provide direct business technical assistance to small- and mid-sized food and farm businesses and food value and supply chain coordination, focusing on market and business development and managing financial resources.  
3. Capacity Building: Provide business builder grants up to $100,000 to meet emerging regional needs and support businesses working toward expansion and other investment.  

Support for the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center came from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service Regional Food Business Centers Program. The 12 USDA Regional Food Business Centers supported all 50 U.S. States and Territories, and were inclusive of all types of agricultural products produced locally or regionally.