About

The Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center will oversee a regional network of dedicated technical assistance providers committed to fostering the sustainable success of farm and food enterprises. This comprehensive support will encompass business coaching, profit enhancement, market access facilitation, and resource connection across the region. The overarching goal is to bolster the resilience of local and regional food systems while promoting the growth of businesses owned by individuals from underserved communities. The GLM Regional Food Business Center will fulfill three primary roles:

Coordination: Support strategic planning, formalize network of supply chain stakeholders, coordinate with USDA, collaborate with other Regional Food Business Centers, outreach to underserved communities and businesses.
Technical Assistance: Provide direct business technical assistance to small- and mid-sized food and farm businesses and food value and supply chain coordination, focusing on market and business development and managing financial resources.
Capacity Building: Provide business builder grants up to $100,000 to meet emerging regional needs and support businesses working toward expansion and other investment.

From July 2023 - June 2028, network coordinators will be responsible for identifying priority places for this work, providing direction on technical assistance needs, developing a technical assistance network, and developing a process for distributing and identifying potential grantees for business builder grants within their respective geographic areas. During the five project years, over $10 million will be distributed throughout the region through technical assistance provision and Business Builder grants.

Together as a region in years 1-2, network coordinators will engage in activities to:

Assess and identify needs and gaps in assistance to food and farm businesses;
Develop as a group, including strengthening relationships, fostering trust, and centering equity; and,
Set the initial collective direction for Regional Food Business activities, including to provide different types of technical assistance for food and farm businesses in specific geographic areas and/or across the region.

After planning activities are complete, network coordinators will:

Develop a comprehensive technical assistance plan that meets the needs and goals of food and farm businesses and provides accountability and support to providers,
Engage technical assistance providers to supply paid assistance to farm and food businesses within their respective geographic areas and/or across the region, and
Outreach to small- and mid-sized farm and food businesses, especially those from underserved communities, to identify potential business builder grantees.

RFBC Great Lakes full color with transparent background.png

GLM-RFBC about photo transparent allen street farmers market.png — Allen Street Farmers Market in Lansing, MI, Photo Credit: Khalid Ibrahim

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.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

And Justice For All Poster

Published on January 5, 2024
This poster is in both English and Spanish and outlines the USDA non-discrimination laws and the steps to take to file a program discrimination complaint.
Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal Poster

Published on January 5, 2024
The ”Know Your Rights” poster summarizes the non-discrimination laws and explains how employees or applicants can file a complaint if they believe they have experienced discrimination.

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

About

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

And Justice For All Poster

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal Poster

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