Explore Funding Sources
The Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses is a directory created to support and benefit food-related business. The directory includes sources of local, regional, and national finance opportunities that may be available to producers, distributors, food hubs, and food-related businesses. The directory is a partial listing of what may be available across the United States; some examples may not be a good match with your particular circumstances. Initially informed by a list of funding resources for food-related businesses found on the Food+Tech Connect website, a media and research company building a network for food innovators and entrepreneurs, this listing has been expanded and updated by the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems to help support local food systems.
How to Use the Directory
Use the Search bar below to find funding sources by their title. Alternatively, use the category options below to filter through and find available opportunities for your business. To select multiple options from the dropdown lists:
- On a Mac, press and hold the Command key (⌘) while clicking on the desired selections.
- On a PC, press and hold the Control (CTRL) key while clicking on the desired selections.
Press the Search button to see applicable funding sources.
-
Opportunity Resource Fund (OppFund)
OppFund provides loans for the start-up or expansion of small businesses, including food businesses in Michigan.
-
Patagonia
Patagonia supports small, grassroots, activist organizations working to address the root causes of concerning environmental issues.
-
Patronicity
Patronicity is a civic crowdfunding platform that supports community and economic improvement projects in MI, MA, and IN.
-
Power of We
A farmer-funded grant program dedicated to strengthening food economies; developing and supporting local, organic food systems; and impacting communities.
-
Prosper
Prosper is a peer-to-peer lending entity— an alternative to traditional loans and investing options.
-
ProsperUS Detroit Lending Program
ProsperUS Detroit Lending Program provides financing for start-up and small businesses that may have been turned away by traditional lenders including minority- and immigrant-owned businesses. Also provides entrepreneur training.
-
RCV Front Line
After completing a simple online form, food and beverage entrepreneurs can receive assistance starting with product launch, working through finding investors all the way to planning business succession.
-
Republic
Republic connects startup businesses to vetted investment opportunities.
-
Revalue Investing
Revalue brings individual investors to individual business owners.
-
RSF Social Finance
RSF Social Finance offers several loan options to provide financing and lines of credit for mortgage, construction, equipment, and working capital to qualified for-profits and non-profits.
-
SEED Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer
Funds are established through set-aside dollars of various Federal agencies for the sole purpose of advancing commercially available technologies.
-
StartEngine
StartEngine provides access to private investors for all types of businesses.
-
The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund provides loans and grants across America to small businesses that conserve land and water resources.
-
The Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund
The Detroit Black Farmer Land Fund offers annual grant funding for Black farmers to purchase and/or make improvements to land in the Detroit area.
-
The Proofing Station
The Proofing Station, a non-profit initiative, provides technical assistance and flexible financing options through farm credit to community development financing institutions for small- and mid-sized food and agriculture businesses.
-
USDA AMS Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)
This grant program seeks to increase domestic consumption and access to locally and regionally produced agricultural products by developing direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities.
-
USDA AMS Local Food Promotion Program
LFPP offers grant funds with a 25% match to support the development and expansion of local and regional food business enterprises to increase domestic consumption.
-
USDA AMS Regional Food System Partnership Program
The program is focused on expanding collaboration among public and private organizations to impact local and regional food systems.
-
USDA Farm Service Agency
Farm Service Agency offers multiple lending options for farmers unable to obtain financing from other sources.
-
USDA Farm Service Agency Farm Storage Facility Loan Program
FSFL is an excellent financing program for on-farm storage and handling for small and mid-sized farms, and for new farmers.
Do you know of a funding source for food-related businesses that we are missing? Does one of the listed funding sources require an update? Let us know by sending an email to Jazmin Bolan-Williamson, Farm and Food Business Coordinator, at bolanwil@msu.edu