Great Lakes Wire

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is inviting proposals for its Food Safety Education Fund grant program. This initiative is part of the annual cycle running from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.

"Protecting Michigan's food supply is one of MDARD's top priorities," said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "Grants from the Food Safety Education Fund help deliver training that local governments and food service businesses depend on to help keep Michiganders and their families safe."

The fund, established under Section 4117 of the Michigan Food Law of 2000 and financed through licensing assessments of $3.00 to $5.00 per Michigan food establishment, will provide up to $356,600 for food safety training and education projects. Of this amount, $242,500 is allocated for consumer education, while $114,100 is designated for training food service employees and MDARD agents.

These grants target Michigan governmental and non-profit organizations, excluding producers, manufacturing processors, marketers, and growers. Proposals with sub-grantees are welcome but should not cover routine training like HACCP or ServSafe manager certification.

Electronic proposal submissions are encouraged and must be sent to MDARD-FSEF@michigan.gov by 5 p.m. on Monday, June 16, 2025. Applicants will receive an email confirmation. Those preferring hard copy submissions need to postmark them by June 12, 2025, addressed to the Bureau of Food Safety and Animal Health, Human Food Division of MDARD in Lansing, Michigan.

Following a review by the Joint Evaluation Committees in July and August, MDARD will announce grant awards in September 2025. Proposals for multi-year projects will be considered depending on subsequent funding availability.