Michigan seeks food safety education, training grant bids

The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development is seeking grant proposals for food safety education and training as part of the Food Safety Education Fund grant program. Grant proposals must be received by MDARD no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. An electronic copy of the Request for Proposals (RFP), including grant criteria, is available on the department’s website.

The Food Safety Education Fund was established under the Michigan Food Law of 2000, as amended, Sec. 4117, and is funded through assessments of $3.00 to $5.00 from each Michigan food establishment license. Up to $225,000 is available in the fund for the 2018 food safety education and training grant cycle. Due to multi-year grant commitments, $100,000 will be available this year for new grant applications.

Grants from the Food Safety Education Fund are competitive and designed to provide training and education to consumers on food safety; and training and education to food service establishment employees and agents of the director who enforce Michigan’s food regulations. Entities eligible to receive grants include Michigan governmental and non-profit organizations and entities. Producers, marketers and growers do not meet this standard. Proposals with sub-grantees will be considered.

Proposals will be evaluated and scored based on the following criteria:

• Provides consumer food safety education or provides food safety training and education to food service establishment employees or regulators who enforce the food law.
• Meets a broad statewide need.
• Improves food safety or food safety education.
• Includes measurable outcomes.
• Provides opportunities to build upon previously funded projects.
• Provides opportunities to work with key partners directly involved in the grant project.
• Includes opportunities to leverage funds or match funds.

An advisory committee will convene in November 2017 to review, score and rank proposals and make funding recommendations to MDARD. Grants will be awarded for projects that run from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018. Multi-year proposals will be considered on an individual basis, contingent on future year funding.

Completed proposals should be sent no later than November 9, 2017, to MDA-FoodDairyInfo@michigan.gov. 

Electronic submission of grant proposals is encouraged and will be confirmed via email receipt. Hard copy submissions must be postmark dated no later than Nov. 6, 2017 (please allow ample time for delivery) to the address below:

Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development Food and Dairy Division P.O. Box 30017 Lansing, Michigan 48909

For more information, contact Tim Slawinski, FSMA Manager, at 517-420-5364.