The Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center
With regional partners, the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems is one of twelve organizations selected by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a regional food business center. These centers will help more agricultural and food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state and local resources. In September 2022, USDA announced $400 million available to finance 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. For regional tribal support, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Food Systems (DAFS) of the Menominee Indian Tribe, in partnership with the Great Lakes Intertribal Food Coalition (GLIFC), will serve Indigenous farmers and businesses. Over $10 million will be distributed directly to technical assistance providers and eligible business owners.
Learn more about the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center with this 2-page overview document.
Who can participate?
Small to mid-sized farmers and historically marginalized food and farm business owners throughout Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.
Support for the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center comes from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service Regional Food Business Centers Program. USDA's 12 regional food business centers support all 50 US states and territories and include all types of agricultural products produced locally or regionally.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, USDA, its agencies, offices and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race , color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, marital/parental status, income from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or retaliation or retaliation for prior civil rights activity , in any program or activity conducted or sponsored by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and deadlines for filing complaints vary by program or incident.
Individuals with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audio tape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the appropriate agency or the USDA TARGET Center at (202 ) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. In addition, program information may be available in languages other than English.
To file a complaint of program discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, located online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter to the USDA and provide in the letter all the information requested on 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: US Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
