Center for Regional Food Systems

• 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.

• Regenerative Social Finance

  Regenerative 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.

• Republic

  Republic connects startup businesses to vetted investment opportunities.

• Revalue Investing

  Revalue brings individual investors to individual business owners.

• 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.