This page consists of drug residue prevention tools and resources for small ruminant producers.
February 13, 2024
Funding is currently available through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) for two grant programs to help expand access to fresh and culturally appropriate foods to low- and moderate-income areas.
The two grant opportunities are part of the MDA’s Good Food Access Program (GFAP): The GFAP Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant and the GFAP Technical Assistance Grant. The agency will award up to $935,000 between the two programs in this funding cycle.
The GFAP Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant helps grocery stores and small food retailers purchase equipment or make physical improvements that will allow them to increase the availability of and access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods (including produce) for underserved communities in low- and moderate-income areas. Applicants for this grant may request between $5,000 and $75,000 for their projects.
Examples of eligible Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant projects include the purchase and installation costs of items like shelving, coolers, and freezers; mobile food trucks; permanent infrastructure at farmers’ markets; or architectural work. Projects that demonstrate positive economic and health impacts on underserved communities will be prioritized for funding.
The GFAP Technical Assistance Grant is available to assist nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and for-profit businesses in providing appropriate technical assistance to eligible food retailers — such as grocery stores, corner stores, and farmers’ markets — interested in providing affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate foods. Applicants to the Technical Assistance Grant may request between $5,000 and $50,000 per project. However, collaborative projects that include multiple technical assistance providers may request up to $200,000. Grants can cover up to 75% of project costs.
Examples of technical assistance include guidance and resources on topics such as business and succession planning, financing, marketing, food procurement or distribution, and handling and merchandising fresh foods.
To be eligible, applicants for both grants must be located in or serve a census tract designated as a food desert or must serve a substantial subpopulation, such as the elderly or disabled or those in a low- or moderate-income census tract, who have low supermarket access. Tribal communities and other organizations that serve Native American tribal communities are also eligible and encouraged to apply.
Application materials for both grants are due by 4 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, March 28, 2024. For full details on eligibility requirements and the application process, review the request for proposals (RFPs) posted on the GFAP Equipment and Physical Improvement Grant and the GFAP Technical Assistance Grant web pages.
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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us
The application period for this program is closed.
Hunter Buntjer
Dairy & Meat Inspection
Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Grant Webinar/Seminario web sobre programa de Becas Para Infraestructura de Sistemas Alimentarios Resistentes de Minnesota (RFSI)
Starts:
Wed, 02/28/2024 - 12:00 pm
Ends:
Wed, 02/28/2024 - 1:00 pm
MDA is a:
Presenter
Details:
Join this informational webinar to learn more about the Minnesota Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Grant. We’ll provide an overview of the program, information about the application process, and answers to questions from prospective applicants.
Submit your questions when you register for the webinar so we can try to answer them all during the presentation. Spanish interpretation will be available.
The RFSI program offers designated grants from $100,000 to $3 million for businesses and organizations operating in the middle of the food supply chain in Minnesota. Applications are due April 3, 2024.
The purpose of the funding is to invest in infrastructure for aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food intended for human consumption, including specialty crops, dairy, grains, aquaculture, and other food products (except meat and poultry, which are funded through other programs).
Detalles:
Únase a este seminario web informativo para obtener más información sobre el programa de Becas Para Infraestructura de Sistemas Alimentarios Resistentes de Minnesota (RFSI). Proporcionaremos una descripción general del programa, información sobre el proceso de solicitud y respuestas a las preguntas de los posibles solicitantes.
Envíe sus preguntas cuando se registre en el seminario web para que podamos intentar responderlas todas durante la presentación. Habrá interpretación en español disponible.
El programa RFSI ofrece subvenciones designadas de $100,000 a $3 millones para empresas y organizaciones que operan en el medio de la cadena de suministro de alimentos en Minnesota. Las solicitudes deben presentarse el 3 de abril de 2024.
El objetivo de la financiación es invertir en infraestructura para la agregación, procesamiento, fabricación, almacenamiento, transporte, venta al por mayor y distribución de alimentos producidos local y regionalmente destinados al consumo humano, incluidos cultivos especiales, lácteos, cereales, acuicultura y otros productos alimenticios. (excepto carnes y aves, que se financian a través de otros programas).
February 21, 2024
A new Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) grant program is offering funding to support the development of agricultural cooperatives in the state.
The Cooperative Development Grant Program is now accepting applications from new cooperatives looking to finance business development strategies that will aid in the successful production, processing, or marketing of agricultural commodities, products, or services produced in Minnesota. The program was created through legislation passed during the 2023 Minnesota legislative session.
“Farmer-owned cooperatives are a critical advocate for and supporter of Minnesota agriculture,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “Through this new funding, the MDA is now able to help further strengthen the agricultural cooperative network across our state and expand opportunities for locally produced commodities, products, and services.”
The MDA will award up to $375,000 in this round of Cooperative Development Grants. Applicants may request between $2,500 and $50,000 per project, and must commit to matching at least 50% of the total project cost. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2026.
Grant applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. Central Time on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Review the request for proposals (RFP) posted on the Cooperative Development Grant Program web page for full application details.
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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us
Overview
Grant reviewers are community members who evaluate applications for a variety of competitive grants we
February 22, 2024
Through a request for information (RFI), the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) invites eligible cooperatives and other interested stakeholders in providing input to help the agency in designing a new Green Fertilizer Grant Program and in assessing business readiness of the green fertilizer industry in Minnesota.
During the 2023 session, the Minnesota Legislature appropriated $7 million to the MDA for a Green Fertilizer Grant Program. The program is intended to provide financial support to Minnesota agricultural and rural electric cooperatives investing in green fertilizer production facilities, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewable energy in the agriculture sector.
The Green Fertilizer Grant Program is a financial tool that can be combined with federal funds like the Inflation Reduction Act Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit or Department of Energy loan programs to de-risk and incentivize development of the local green fertilizer industry.
For this program, green fertilizer is defined as any nitrogen-based fertilizer that contains hydrogen produced via electrolysis powered by renewable energy.
The full RFI can be viewed on the MDA’s Green Fertilizer Program web page. Responses are due by 5 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, March 14, 2024, via Microsoft Forms.
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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us
