Resources for Farmers, Producers, and Food Business Owners
The following resources, webinars, and guides were developed for food and farm businesses as part of the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center. Though USDA Regional Food Business Centers program has ended, these resources will remain freely available.
To continue working towards transformational food systems change, many of the original partners are collaborating through the Great Lakes Partnership for Food and Farm Development. Learn more about this partnership here,
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Driving Demand: Identifying your Target Consumer and Crafting a Story that Will Sell – August 27, 2025
Published on September 9, 2025
This webinar from the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center guides food and farm businesses through understanding their customers to increase their sales. -
Get Grant Ready: How Farmers Can Use Cash Flow to Prepare for Funding Webinar – August 21, 2025
Published on August 27, 2025
In this webinar, food and farm business owners can learn how to use cash flow and profitability statements to prepare for grant opportunities. -
Developing a Michigan Food Truck Business Concept: A Worksheet to Guide Your Business Planning
Published on August 13, 2025
This workbook provides guided questions and worksheets to support the development of a food truck business concept. It includes both a printable and a fillable digital version for ease of use. -
Tribal Food Producer Information Session: Tracking expenses and sales – June 11, 2025
Published on June 26, 2025
Learn about tracking farm business expenses and sales using a sales and expense tracking sheet, including information on how to use this for tax purposes. -
Preparing for Funding: A Self-Guided Learning Journey for Food and Farm Businesses
Published on June 19, 2025
This video series will guide food and farm business owners through the process of preparing for financing and grant funding
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.
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.
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