LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has awarded value-added and regional food system grants to 24 Michigan producers, processors, and community development organizations.
According to officials with MDARD, the grants will help retain, expand, attract, or develop agricultural processing in Michigan through targeted investments in technology and equipment, feasibility studies, healthy food access, regional food systems, and urban agriculture.
MDARD received 109 eligible proposals with requests totaling more than $8.6 million. Each proposal was competitively reviewed by a joint evaluation committee that makes recommendations to the MDARD Director for selection of award recipients. Of those, the department awarded over $1.8 million for 24 projects, leveraging more than $1.8 million in matching funds:
Of the 24 businesses set to receive grants, three are located in Southwest Michigan: Lazy Ballerina Winery in St. Joseph; Flatwater Farms in Buchanan; and St. Julian Wine in Paw Paw.
Flatwater Farms LLC- (Buchanan) – $74,000 to increase access to fresh organic produce through season extension growing.
Lazy Ballerina Winery, LLC- (Saint Joseph) – $40,000 for production expansion to process Michigan grapes and fruit.
St. Julian Wine Co., Inc.- (Paw Paw) – $100,000 for quality & efficiency upgrades through the addition of a premium wine centrifuge.
“Governor Whitmer continues to ensure that every person, business, and community can ‘make it in Michigan,’ and MDARD is following suit by making bold investments into the state’s growing food and agricultural businesses,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “These investments highlight the unique opportunities available to our local food and agriculture businesses while allowing companies to increase capacity, secure supply chains, and implement climate-smart practices. With Governor Whitmer’s leadership, we’re ensuring Michigan is an essential destination for our food and agriculture industry.”
