Food and farm business owners in Michigan now have the opportunity to enhance their grant writing skills through the free online course offered by Michigan State University Extension. The Grant Writing for Farm and Food Entrepreneurs course is self-paced and available online, making it convenient for busy entrepreneurs to learn at their own pace. Developed by the MSU Extension Community Food Systems team and the MSU Product Center, this course aims to provide participants with a better understanding of the grant writing process and help them identify relevant grant opportunities for their businesses.
One of the key objectives of the course is to help participants determine if grant writing is the best option for their business needs. By learning about the common components of grant proposals and writing a complete grant proposal outline during the course, participants will gain valuable insights into the grant writing process. This grant proposal outline can serve as a useful starting point for food and farm entrepreneurs who are new to grant writing and are looking to apply for real-world grant funding opportunities.
Michigan food businesses have access to a variety of grant opportunities, which can be found in the Funding Sources for Food-Related Businesses resource from the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems. Participation in the Grant Writing for Farm and Food Entrepreneurs course is also recommended for entrepreneurs preparing for upcoming funding opportunities from the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center. By completing this online course, participants will not only gain valuable knowledge about grant writing but also position themselves for success in securing grant funding for their businesses.
The course is free to participate in and takes place on MSU’s Desire 2 Learn (D2L) online platform. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate of completion. Those interested in learning more about the Grant Writing for Farm and Food Entrepreneurs course can visit the registration page on the MSU Extension website.
In addition to the online course, participants may also consider becoming an MSU Product Center client to access further business counseling services. By becoming a client, food and farm businesses can receive 1:1 business counseling from the MSU Product Center, helping them further develop their business strategies and plans. To become a client, interested individuals can visit the MSU Product Center website and select the “Become a Client” button. Please note that there is a one-time, non-refundable $100 fee to access these services.
Overall, the Grant Writing for Farm and Food Entrepreneurs course offered by Michigan State University Extension is a valuable resource for food and farm business owners looking to enhance their grant writing skills and secure funding for their businesses. By participating in this free online course, entrepreneurs can gain the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the grant writing process successfully and position their businesses for growth and success.
