Farmer & Maker Grants - Mill City Farmers Market

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Farmer & Maker Grants

our Grant Programs

The Mill City Farmers Market Charitable Fund (MCFM-CF) is committed to the success and sustainability of the local food economy. We designed the Next Stage Grant Program to support local, regenerative farmers and food producers who are improving sustainable farming and business practices or growing toward the “next stage” of their business.

In addition to our main grant program, MCFM-CF understands that the livelihood of a farm can be vulnerable to an array of extreme weather-related crop loss or other unpredictable causes of hardship. Our Hardship Grant Program is intended to provide crucial emergency funding while farmers work to recover and rebuild.

Since these programs began in 2013, we have awarded 153 grants to local and sustainable farmers and makers, totaling over $473,000 in project funding.

The Next Stage and Hardship Grant Programs are funded solely through community support. Each donation directly empowers the farmers and producers at the heart of our local food system, giving them the resources needed to create long lasting impacts for their family, community, and the environment.

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Learn more

Next Stage Grants range from $1,000 to $7,000. Past grants have funded season extension, wells & water access, gates & fencing, pack sheds and processing equipment, cold storage for produce and flowers, organic certification, and experimenting with new tools and techniques.

Hardship Grants provide emergency funding up to $2,000. Past grants have covered field crop loss and infrastructural repairs due to weather-related events like hail, drought and flooding, as well as family medical emergencies.

Through equipment, technology, research and other ways of capacity building that can increase yields, improve growing practices and support small businesses, farmers and makers are able to become more sustainable and successful. We have seen this hard work and innovation firsthand and know that these producers can be successful with a little help from their community.

“We’d like to express our gratitude for the support provided by the MCFM-CF Next Stage Grant Program. This project has highlighted that the possibilities are endless when it comes to new farming technologies. As climate change continues to pose challenges for traditional farming methods, we’re learning that technology can help us manage these issues and continue to grow food sustainably.

For market shoppers and program donors, we want to emphasize the impact of your support. Not only are you helping us grow better food, but you’re also supporting educational opportunities for youth and creating more accessible farming practices. Your support is helping to shape the future of sustainable agriculture.”

–Lillian Ogoamaka, Way of the Root Farm, received funding to purchase and install an urban hydroponic system in 2024

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Next Stage Grant

Applications for MCFM-CF’s 2024 Next Stage Grant cycle closed on March 1st, 2024. Grants are awarded in early April. For any questions please reach out to us at info@millcityfarmersmarket.org or 612-341-7580.

be notified When Grants Open

Applicant Requirements:

Farm or business…

Must sell at one or more regional farmers markets. Preference will be given to applicants with a higher percentage of sales coming from direct-to-consumer sales.
Must be located in Minnesota or within 200 miles of Minneapolis.
Must adhere to Mill City Farmers Market’s Sustainability Statement or the project must aim to bring them closer to meeting it.
Must have been in operation for more than one year.
Not required to be a current vendor at the Mill City Farmers Market.
Farms structured as 501(c)3 nonprofits are eligible to apply as of 2022.
Did not receive Next Stage Grant funding in 2023 or 2024 (applicants are eligible for funding every 3 years).
Applicant must meet our Financial Need Statement (linked below) OR the project must demonstrate a significant research or broader educational component.

Priority will be given to applicants who:

Are farm businesses
Receive more than 50% of sales from direct-to-consumer sales (farmers markets, CSA, roadside stand, etc)
Receive a significant amount of their income from their farm or business
Are underrepresented in their industry or experience institutional barriers to economic opportunity
Are applying for a project that would not be viable without Next Stage Grant funding

Next Stage Grant program uses can include:

Support farmer transition to organic certification and other sustainable and regenerative farming and land management practices (does not include cost of doing business like soil inputs)
Training, courses and other forms of education related to capacity-building and sound business practices from professional service providers or qualified consultants (other farmers or business owners, marketing specialists, web designers, etc.)
Innovations that improve efficiencies, growing practices or product quality

The following may also be funded, but are subject to additional criteria relating to financial need defined by MCFM-CF’s ‘Financial Need Statement’ in the application documents below:

Building cold storage facilities
Season extension projects
Pack sheds and processing
New product development such as value-added farm goods, diversifying crops or livestock, etc.
Software and technology upgrades such as heaters, refrigerators, solar installations, business management software, etc.
Marketing improvements such as labeling and packaging equipment, web design, etc.

Application Documents:

Email completed Application, Budget Template and Financial Summary to info@millcityfarmersmarket.org by March 1st, 2024.

2025 Next Stage Grant Information: ENGLISH, SPANISH, HMONG, SOMALI

Financial Need Statement FAQ

Applying for the Next Stage Grant and wondering if your family income needs to fall under the 275% Federal Poverty Guidelines listed in the Financial Need Statement?

Answer:

Demonstrated need is required for projects that are not, standing alone, charitable activity: purchasing depreciable equipment, like a tractor, or cap ex construction, like a fence or greenhouse.

IF your family does NOT fall under the 275% FPG, your project needs to have a significant research or education/outreach element so that it can be considered charitable activity.

Past examples of this have included:

Creating a brand new growing system to combat Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) and heavily promoting the system on Youtube and at regional growers conferences
Experimenting with new, innovative post-harvest equipment to be shared in a growers cooperative
Purchasing a tractor to train multiple farmers at a incubator farm on mechanical cultivation and tractor maintenance

The reason for all of this is that our grant program is funded by tax-exempt donations, so funds awarded also need to be tax-exempt charitable work. Please feel free to reach out to info@millcityfarmersmarket.org if you have any questions about these charitable guidelines or if you’d like to discuss project ideas.

Hardship Grant

Hardship Grant Program

The Mill City Farmers Market Charitable Fund (MCFM-CF) is committed to the success and sustainability of the local food economy. In addition to supporting farmers and food makers who are innovating and moving to the “next stage” of their businesses through our main grant program, MCFM-CF understands that the livelihood of a farm can be vulnerable to an array of extreme weather-related crop loss or other unpredictable causes of hardship. While these risks are inherent to farming, MCFM-CF’s Hardship Grant is intended to provide support of up to $2,000 while farmers work to recover and rebuild.

This grant program is sustained through the generosity of the market community with a goal to keep regenerative family farmers on the land, producing nourishing food for all.

Application Process

This grant is meant to be easily accessible for busy, hardworking farmers and small business owners. MCFM-CF staff is available to answer your questions, help you complete the application, and will provide translation if needed. For questions or assistance with your application, please contact us at info@millcityfarmersmarket.org or 612-341-7580.

Document 1: Hardship Grant Description and Application

Document 2: Financial Summary

Applications for our hardship grant program are accepted on a rolling basis, as funds are available, and typically are awarded within a month of receiving the application. Submit your completed application and financial summary via email to info@millcityfarmersmarket.org.

Grant History & Past Projects

Mill City Farmers Market started its grant programming in 2013 as a way to support its farmers in times of extreme crop loss and other hardship, understanding that farms operate on tight margins and can be vulnerable to an array of unpredictable weather-related crop loss and infrastructure damage.

Within a few years, funds we raised for Hardship Grants at our annual Harvest Social dinner exceeded the amount requested by our vendors, and we were able to expand the program to support MCFM farmers who were looking to take their business to the next level and experiment with new crops, sustainable growing techniques and time-saving equipment.

The next big change came in 2018, after the inception of the Market’s Charitable Fund. With this sister organization, we have been able to expand the size of grant awards and the pool of grantees beyond Mill City Farmers Market vendors. Now, Next Stage and Hardship Grantees represent local farmers and food makers throughout the region who sustain our healthy, local food system.

As of the 2024 grant cycle, we have funded over 153 grants through these programs, totaling over $473,000 to local farmers and makers. Learn more about past projects below.

2023 next stage GRANTEES

2022 next stage GRANTEES

2021 next stage GRANTEES

2020 next stage GRANTEES

2019 next stage Grantees

2018 Next Stage GRANTEES

ADDITIONAL FUNDING RESOURCES

SUPPORT

The Next Stage Grant program is sustained through the generosity of the market community. Please join us in supporting a healthy and sustainable local food economy by donating to this program today. Ways your donation could have an impact:

$25 Many hands make light work! Your donation goes far to support local farmers and makers
$50 Buys 100 feet of plastic sheeting to extend the growing season with a greenhouse
$100 Supports a portion of the commercial equipment needed to efficiently process farm produce into sauces, baked goods and dried products for additional year-round income
$350 Provides a “coolbot” temperature controller for a farmers’s cold storage system, improving produce shelf life and quality
$1,000 Funds new tools that reduce hard labor of prepping fields, transplanting and processing harvested crops

DONATE TODAY

DONAte through your Donor Advised Fund

In accordance with IRS guidelines, 100% of your donation is tax deductible.

The Next Stage Grant program is sustained by donations from our generous market community and from CoBank. We are honored to be stewards of this program.