Applications for grant funds are available through the Michigan Economic Development Corp.'s Michigan Agricultural Safety Grant Program and the MEDC Small Farm Safety Grant Program for farmers and agricultural processors throughout the state.

In tandem, the grant programs aim to help both large and small Michigan farms, as well as agricultural processors, mitigate the risks of COVID-19 across the state’s food production industry.

“We want to make sure that our farmers and food processors are aware of the resources available to them,” says Gary McDowell, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. “The health and safety of Michigan’s food and agriculture workers will be even more important over the next few months as crops are harvested and products make their way to grocery store shelves.”

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The Michigan Agricultural Safety Grant Program uses up to $15 million of federal CARES Act funding to provide assistance to Michigan’s agricultural processors and farms for their COVID-19 mitigation efforts. These include, but are not limited to, testing costs, personal protection equipment, facility needs, increased sanitation costs, employee training and upgraded safety procedures for farm-provided housing. To qualify for grant support, applicants must be a farm or agricultural processor located in Michigan and have a minimum of 10 employees.

The MEDC Small Farm Safety Grant Program provides $1.25 million in grants to farms with fewer than 10 employees to fund COVID-19 mitigation costs. These include, but are not limited to, testing costs, personal protection equipment, facility needs, increased sanitation costs, employee training and upgraded safety procedures for farm-provided housing.

”As we continue to utilize every resource possible to ensure economic relief and recovery in industries and communities across the state, the funding provided through the Michigan Agricultural Safety grants and the MEDC Small Farm Safety grants will help small farmers and processors cover necessary costs needed to ensure the safety of their employees and the state’s food supply,” says Mark A. Burton, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

Details, eligibility requirements and applications for both grant programs can be found at michiganbusiness.org/agsafety.

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