Welcome to our first round of the Mini Seed-Grants administered by the Northwest Michigan Food & Farming Network. Funds for this program have been provided by our partners at the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities via Networks Northwest and the Regional Prosperity Initiative.

These mini grants (maximum $2,000 from FFN and we will try to find someone to match for a total of $4,000) are designed to provide NW Michigan Food & Farming Network participants with an opportunity to support creative projects that help the Network accomplish its goals. Grants will be awarded to teams to use as they require.

The application is short and simple. You can apply online. Here’s a preview of the questions in hard copy form.

CRITERIA:
• Participation of 3+ Network Members (we can help you find them and they cannot be from one organization)
• Projects should show the ability to progress with or without funds (2 tiered proposal – “If we get funding we’ll do this. If we don’t get funding we’ll do this.”)
• Measurable outcomes, with completion by February 2017 Summit
• Direct impact on (and participation of) the community being served
– We are interested in benefiting people or issues in need, not necessarilly the organizations doing the work
• Match potential (not mandatory but, display of investment will encourage the distribution of funds)
• Relationship to at least one network action area
• New and innovative approaches to solve problems are encouraged

TIMELINE:
• Proposals are due by the May 18, 2016 business meeting of the FFN
• Grant applications will be judged by a panel appointed by the FFN leadership team
• Grants will be awarded at the June (end of year) potluck
• FFN will work with project leaders to help find additional funding if available
• Projects should be completed by the 2017 Summit in February
• Project leaders should be prepared to report on the progress of the project at the Summit

FFN ACTION AREAS: (You can find more information here.)
• LOCAL FOOD SALES – Increasing Direct and Indirect Sales
• FARM TO INSTITUTION – Institutionalizing Local Procurement
• AGRI-BUSINESS GENERATION – Building Local Production & Processing Capacity
• FOOD ACCESS – Healthful Food For All
• FARMLAND RESOURCES – Preservation of Farming and Farmland

APPLICATION PROCESS:
• COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM 
• SUBMIT THE ONLINE FORM OR PRINT A FORM (below) – All applications are due to the FFN 12:00 (noon) on Wednesday May 18th, 2016. (Just after the
scheduled FFN business meeting.) You may also deliver your application by the same
deadline via email to: foodandfarmingnetwork@gmail.com

Click here to print a hard copy application or here to access the online application.