The Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center
With regional partners, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems is one of twelve organizations selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a Regional Food Business Center. These centers will help more farm and food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state, and local resources. In September 2022, USDA announced $400 million available to fund this initiative.
Between July 2023 and June 2028, the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center will receive $20 million to launch and coordinate this center with key partners 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), will serve Indigenous farmers and businesses. Over $10 million will be distributed directly to technical assistance providers and eligible business owners.
Learn more about the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center here.
Obtenga más información sobre el Centro Regional de Distribución de Productos Alimentarios de los Grandes Lagos y el Medio Oeste aqui.
Who Can Participate?
Small- to mid-sized farmers and historically marginalized food and farm business owners throughout Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center Partners
CRFS will serve as the key partner for Michigan, while the others will serve as Network Coordinators for their respective geographic areas, and the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin will work regionally across all states.
- Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (Michigan)
- Chicago Food Policy Action Council (Illinois)
- Northwest Indiana Food Council (Indiana)
- Food Finance Institute of the University of Wisconsin System (Wisconsin)
- Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Food Systems (Regionally)
Upcoming Events
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Dec 5
Tribal Food Producer Information Session
December 5, 2024 12:30PM – 1:30PM
A virtual space for Tribal food producers from across the Great Lakes Midwest to gather and learn together
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Jan 24
Planning for Profit: Marketing and Production Budget Workshop
January 24, 2025 – January 31, 2025 Kalamazoo Valley Community College Culinary and Allied Health Building Room CAH223, 418 E. Walnut Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Learn tools to maximize your profit by choosing the crop and market mix that works best for your farm.
Support for the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service Regional Food Business Centers Program. The 12 USDA Regional Food Business Centers support all 50 U.S. States and Territories, and are inclusive of all types of agricultural products produced locally or regionally.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
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