Grant Launch Webinar WEDS at 3pm! Registration link

I’m pleased to share that the final round of Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub Spark Awards just opened the Requests for Applications!

Do you know a way to bring local, nutritious food to more schools across our region? Spark Awards fund projects that need a short-term infusion of funds for school food system and product improvements, such as capacity-building, planning, and product-testing projects. ($30K - $100K per year)

And tomorrow - Wednesday November 4, 2026 from 3:00-4:00pm EST - is the Spark Awards Launch Webinar! Register now!

• English Webinar Meeting Registration - Zoom (3pm EST on 11/4/2026)
• Spanish Webinar Meeting Registration - Zoom (2pm EST on 11/4/2026)

This webinar will cover an overview of the Request for Applications, including what’s changed from the previous round, and answer some of the most frequently asked questions. There will be time to meet and greet your State Leads along with potential partners who are interested in Innovation Hub grants here in Michigan!

Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub supports people working to improve school meals across Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The initiative offers funding, training, and other assistance to partnerships that include farmers, food producers, suppliers, distributors, schools, and organizations. 

Want to talk? We have scheduled weekly drop-in office hours. Visit the Support for Michigan Applicants page for the Zoom link to those meeting rooms. There we can help you develop project ideas, form and manage partnerships, connect with resources, answer questions about your application, and strengthen your grant-writing by reviewing and/or editing your application! The open hours are as follows:

• Tuesdays, 10:30 – 11:30 am EST (Julie Lehman)

        Zoom link: https://msu.zoom.us/j/5658155119

        Meeting ID: 565 815 5119, Passcode: lovelocal

• Wednesdays, 12:00 - 1:00 pm EST (May Tsupros)

        Zoom Link: https://msu.zoom.us/j/8734970127

        Meeting ID: 873 497 0127

• Whether you have applied in the past or you are just learning of this opportunity, you can also contact Jazmin Bolan-Williamson to review your project idea and lend support. Meet with Jazmin by appointment through this Calendly link.

You can learn more on the InnovateSchoolFood.org site. (It's great; you can see what has previously been funded, get ideas and inspiration, view videos on applying for federal grants, and more!) Please share this information widely by forwarding this email and sharing on social media with this Innovation Hub Facebook link. 

Julie Lehman (she/her)

Farm to Youth Network Coordinator

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems 

Michigan Farm to ECE

Michigan Farm to School

Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub

My personal Zoom room link is below. 

Online for drop-in hours every Tuesday from 10:30-11:30am EST

Zoom link: https://msu.zoom.us/j/5658155119 

Meeting ID:  565 815 5119 
Passcode: lovelocal 

Your gift will help us support communities to realize their own food system visions.

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