The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) is offering a grant opportunity to projects that address expansion and sustainability of land-based industries; worker training related to land-based industries; and energy, transportation, communications, water, and wastewater infrastructure to benefit rural communities and micropolitan statistical areas.

Eligible counties include those with a population no greater than 70,000 residents or micropolitan statistical areas.

• Maximum $100,000 grant
• Minimum 30% match required

• Individuals
• Organizations
• Businesses
• Municipal Government (county, city, township, village, school district; any authority composed of counties, cities, townships, villages and school districts or combination of these entities)
• Federally Recognized Tribes
• Educational Institutions

Eligible Rural Communities & Micropolitan Statistical Areas: Projects in the following counties are eligible rural (70,000 population or less), or Micropolitan statistical areas:

• Alcona • Alger • Allegan • Alpena • Antrim • Arenac • Baraga • Barry • Benzie • Branch • Cass • Charlevoix • Cheboygan • Chippewa • Clare • Crawford• Delta • Dickinson • Emmet • Gladwin• Gogebic • Grand Traverse
• Gratiot • Hillsdale • Houghton • Huron • Ionia • Iosco • Iron • Isabella
• Kalkaska • Keweenaw • Lake • Leelanau • Lenawee • Luce • Mackinac • Manistee • Marquette • Mason • Mecosta • Menominee • Missaukee
• Montcalm • Montmorency • Newaygo • Oceana • Ogemaw • Ontonagon
• Osceola • Oscoda • Otsego • Presque Isle • Roscommon

Projects or applicants in the following counties and agencies are NOT eligible for grant funding: 

• Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, Saint Clair, Van Buren, Washtenaw, and Wayne.
• State agencies are not eligible for grant funding.

Indirect costs are NOT allowed under this grant program. Indirect costs are defined as the expenses of doing business that are not readily identified within the project but are necessary for the general operation of the organization and the implementation of proposal-related activities.

• Infrastructure Development
  • Examples of projects could be roadways, bridges, renewable energy, wastewater, rural housing, broadband, etc.
• Rural Capacity Building
  • Examples of projects include museums, local and regional tourism campaigns, technical assistant programs, shared service models, feasibility studies, etc.
• Business Development
  • Examples for projects include business expansion ensuring long-term creation or retention of jobs with a strong local and/or regional impact. For this year, projects with a focus on livestock processing are encouraged.
• Talent Development and Training
  • Examples of projects include local and regional workforce development programs, workforce training, rural housing projects, childcare, etc.

The 2024 Grant Cycle Request opened on October 24, 2023. All applications must be submitted on the new MiAgGrants site. Find support and learn more about the MiAgGrants and MiLogin partnership.

For more information, visit the program’s website.