A collaborative partnership dedicated to providing business support, financial assistance, and value-led coordination for farms and food businesses in the Great Lakes region.

Our Partnership

Small- and mid-scale food and farm businesses are the foundation of diverse, competitive, and resilient food systems. Through providing tailored business assistance, streamlined grant opportunities, and value-led coordination, the Great Lakes Partnership for Food and Farm Development is ready to support them.  

We aim to build skills and knowledge, access to capital, social infrastructure, and trust. By committing to transformational rather than transactional food systems change, our efforts will strengthen communities across the region. 

Support our partnership to strengthen resilient, regional food systems!

We are currently seeking funding for what we offer: 

  • Business Assistance: Activating a network of service providers who are culturally diverse, culturally competent, and available to support entrepreneurs with customized services and/or group educational training on topics ranging from business acumen to marketing and wholesale readiness. 
  • Grant Program: Launching already-developed, accessible, regranting materials, processes, and policies to support small- and mid-scale food and farm businesses that value their workforce, the communities they serve, and the natural environment. These materials can be adapted to other food systems related investments, such as regenerative agriculture, food is medicine, and farm to institution. 
  • Coordination: Filling a persistent, vital gap for regional coordination, assistance, and resources that are truly responsive and understanding of local needs — leading with values to support equitable, effective, and efficient programs and distribution of resources.
 

A colorful map of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin

Who we are

This partnership is locally focused but regionally distributed, spanning four states — Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin — and in collaboration with the region’s Indigenous nations and communities. Partners serve as network coordinators for their respective places and communities in the region: 

 

Interested in learning more? Let's talk!