LANSING — The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development is now accepting proposals for a competitive grant program aimed at helping promote and enhance Michigan’s $101.2 billion food and agriculture industry.

The Value-Added Grant Program is intended to help expand value-added agricultural processing and food hub development in the state–as well as improve access to fresh nutritional Michigan grown foods. Those interested in applying should visit www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants to view the application and program overview.

The grant will award a maximum amount of $125,000 per proposal. Each project will require a minimum 30-percent match. The value-added proposals will be evaluated through a competitive process. Applicants for grant funds will be asked to describe how the project will impact and produce measurable outcomes for the state’s food and agriculture industry.

Proposals must be received via email at mda-grants@michigan.gov no later than 3 p.m. (EST)on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. Proposals received after 3 p.m. will not be considered.

Any additional communications concerning this Request for Proposal should be sent to mda-grants@michigan.gov.

For more information on MDARD’s grant programs, visit www.michigan.gov/mdardgrants.

— Michigan Department of Agriculture

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