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

The Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center

Per the USDA announcement on July 15, 2025, the Regional Food Business Centers program was terminated, prior to its original end date of July 2028. Because of this, the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center halted operations on September 15, 2025 and was unable to responsibly launch the Business Builder Subaward and assistance  programs. Please see our related press release. Resources intended to help food and farm businesses will remain freely available on this website and additional resources can be found at foodsystems.msu.edu/resources.   

The Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center offered assistance to support food and farm business owners across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin through September 15, 2025.   

As one of twelve Regional Food Business Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in July 2023, the Michigan State University (MSU) Center for Regional Food Systems coordinated the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center with a set of partners that served as network coordinators for their respective places in the region:  

• Illinois: Chicago Food Policy Action Council  
• Indiana: Northwest Indiana Food Council  
• Michigan: MSU Center for Regional Food Systems  
• Wisconsin: Food Finance Institute at the University of Wisconsin System  
• Regional tribal coordination: Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Food Systems  

The Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center aimed to reach: 

• Farmers, producers, and food business owners   
  • With small- or mid-sized businesses  
  • Seeking support for post-production and/or marketing activities  
  • Launching or growing a business  
• Service providers who offer assistance to business owners in the region  

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.