The Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center
With regional partners, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems is one of twelve organizations selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a Regional Food Business Center. These centers will help more farm and food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state, and local resources. In September 2022, USDA announced $400 million available to fund this initiative.
Over the next five years, the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center will receive $20 million to launch and coordinate this center with key partners in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The Menominee Indian Tribe Department of Agriculture and Food Systems will partner with this Center to provide tribal coordination across the region. Over $10 million will be distributed directly to technical assistance providers and eligible business owners.
Who Can Participate?
Small- to mid-sized farmers and historically marginalized food and farm business owners throughout Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.
Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center Partners
CRFS will serve as the key partner for Michigan, while the others will serve as Network Coordinators for their respective geographic areas, and the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin will work regionally across all states.
Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (Michigan)
Chicago Food Policy Action Council (Illinois)
Northwest Indiana Food Council (Indiana)
Food Finance Institute of the University of Wisconsin (Wisconsin)
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Food Systems (Regionally)
Featured in the News
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USDA Under Secretary, Stabenow Announce New Food Business Center
Published on May 23, 2023
Support for the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service USDA Regional Food Business Centers Program. The 12 USDA Regional Food Business Centers support all 50 U.S. States and Territories, and is inclusive of all types of agricultural products produced locally or regionally.
Learn more about the USDA Regional Food Business Centers Program.
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