Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) opportunity

All letters must be received no later than 8:00 AM on Thursday, January 27, 2022, to be considered.  

 

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) intends to apply for a funding opportunity through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).  This opportunity will be approximately $6,600,000 and is through the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) (authorized and funded under Section 1001(b)(4) of the American Rescue Plan Act (P.L. 117-2).  MDE is interested in partnering with 2-3 regional or statewide organizations to assist in achieving the purposes of the grant: 

·        Strengthen the local and regional food system 

·        Support local and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers through building and expanding economic opportunities 

·        Establish, strengthen, and broaden partnerships with producers and the food distribution community, local food networks, and non-profits by distributing fresh and nutritious foods in rural, remote, or underserved communities 

 

The expectation of this 2-year program is for recipients to spend the majority of awarded funds on food purchases. This opportunity will allow for entities to procure local, domestic foods that are unique to their geographic area and meet the needs of the populations. Organizations can also request direct and indirect costs associated with developing and administering the program. Funds may also be used to cover the activities associated with program development, administration, food storage, and food distribution.  

 

MDE is requesting that organizations interested in partnering on this opportunity submit a 1–2-page Letter of Grant Interest on organization letterhead.  All letters must be received no later than 8:00 AM on Thursday, January 27, 2022, to be considered.  

 

In your letter, please include the following: 

1. Contact person and appropriate details (name, title, full address, email, phone number).  This is the person that will assist MDE with the grant writing process.  Please note, due to internal MDE deadlines, the grant writing process  must be complete by March 10, 2022. 
2. A brief, high-level explanation of project(s) your organization would implement to reach regional or statewide areas, how each project will help to meet the purposes of the grant noted above, and how your project(s) might be sustainable beyond the grant funding.  Letters should include the steps the partner will take to target local and socially disadvantaged farmers/producers. MDE is specifically interested in ideas that promote sustainable changes in food systems. 
3. Potential grant amount needed to meet the project(s) proposed by your organization.  The intent of this partnership request is to solicit potential partners that will use a significant portion of the funds available to achieve the project goals.  As a result, it is unlikely that partnerships with a scope less than $1,000,000.00 will be included. 

 

Please note, if your organization is chosen to partner on this grant opportunity, further details and a more detailed budget will be requested during the grant writing process.  Providing high-level details now will assist MDE in the selection of grant partners.  More detailed project and partner listing, budget details, etc. will be done as a grant writing team. Partnering organizations will be required to attend planning sessions.   

 

Partners chosen will be notified by Monday, January 31, 2022. 

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Email Letters of Grant Interest to MDE-FMFD@michigan.gov.  

All letters must be received no later than 8:00 AM on Thursday, January 27, 2022, to be considered.  

 

 

 

 

Wendy K. Crowley

Farm to Program Consultant

Child Nutrition Programs

Michigan Department of Education

crowleyw@michigan.gov

 

 

 

Fw: (F2ECE FIG:2020-2022 All Participants) GroMore Good Garden Grants

Forwarding a garden grant opportunity

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GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant In 2022, 150 programs will receive $500 to start or expand a youth garden or greenspace. Programs have the opportunity to apply for additional funding through the Plus, Pride, and Equity specialty award categories. Meagan K. Shedd, PhD Assistant Professor, Farm to Early Care and K-12 Education Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University Department of Community Sustainability | College of Agriculture and Natural Resources 480 Wilson Rd, Room 309 | Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824-1039 517.432.4525 | mshedd@msu.edu www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

07fb065fde17bd902c5f82d2

Grant expands farm to early care and education efforts in Michigan

A second Farm to Early Care and Education Implementation Grant will grow connections between childcare providers and food producers.

A second Farm to Early Care and Education Implementation Grant will further expand farm to ECE efforts in Michigan   An additional $90,900 grant will grow connections between early care and education providers and food producers in Michigan.  Contact: Meagan Shedd, mshedd@msu.edu The Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN) announced that the Farm to Early Care and Education Implementation Grant (FIG) will continue for a second year, November 1, 2021 through October 31, 2022. This grant from the ASPHN was awarded to the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) to strengthen collaborations and increase awareness of, capacity for, and equitable access to farm to ECE. “One of the most important lessons learned in the first year of FIG was that the pandemic is still a challenge in our state,” says Meagan Shedd, the FIG team co-lead for Michigan. Shedd is an assistant professor who leads farm to early care and K-12 education work at the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems. "Our year 2 activities will focus on ‘meeting providers and farmers and food producers where they are’ and working more actively to reduce barriers to participating in farm to ECE programs.” MSU CRFS coordinates the Michigan Farm to Early Care and Education Network, a group of statewide partners who collaborate to improve access to healthy food, increase nutritional awareness and health outcomes, and support ECE providers as they work to improve children’s learning environments. Michigan was one of ten states and the District of Columbia that received an additional $90,900 each and technical assistance to strengthen their state-level farm to ECE initiatives for an additional one-year project period. ASPHN administers this grant in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Farm to School Network. The continuing Year Two FIG teams include: Colorado, District of Columbia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Vermont, and Washington. The Year One FIG Evaluation Report describes the impact of the FIG's first year and the potential promise for opportunities in its second year. Year One positively impacted over 1,200 ECE sites, 1,900 ECE providers, and 219,000 children. The funding and technical assistance also helped teams increase awareness and implementation of farm to ECE; prioritize equity in their FIG work; and sustain that impact with policy, systems, and environment changes. This work will continue in year two with teams continuing to prioritize equity across all farm to ECE activities, expand farm to ECE implementation and awareness across their states, and strengthen their sustainable farm to ECE systems. Interest in the farm to ECE strategy has grown in recent years thanks to its innovative and effective approach. Year One FIG mini grants and awards could only award 25 percent of the interested ECEs. ASPHN hopes to build on this interest by networking local farmers and food producers with ECEs such as family childcare sites, preschools, childcare centers and Head Starts, thereby helping to stimulate local economies and increasing children’s access to healthy foods. For more information about farm to ECE in Michigan, please contact Meagan Shedd at mshedd@msu.edu. For more information about FIG, please contact Emia Oppenheim at emia@asphn.org or 814-255-2829, extension 714. The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) unites the knowledge of diverse food systems stakeholders with that of MSU faculty and staff to advance regionally-rooted food systems through applied research, education, and outreach. Our work fosters a thriving economy, equity, and sustainability for Michigan, the nation, and the planet by increasing understanding of and engagement with systems that produce food that is healthy, green, fair, and affordable. Learn more at foodsystems.msu.edu. Founded in 1952, the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN) is a non-profit membership organization that strengthens nutrition policy, programs and environments for all people through the development of public health nutrition leaders and the collective action of members nationwide. ASPHN’s membership is composed of more than 700 nutrition professionals located throughout all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. ASPHN's vision is healthy eating and active living for everyone. You can find ASPHN on the web at www.asphn.org and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/asphn. MSU Center for Regional Food Systems appreciates the technical assistance, training, and financial support provided to us by the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN). FIG is supported by the CDC of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of cooperative agreement number NU38OT000279-04. This specific project, along with many other projects, is funded through this cooperative agreement that totals $3,245,000. One hundred percent of FIG is funded by DNPAO/ National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) /CDC/HHS. The contents of this release are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, DNPAO/NCCDPHP/CDC/HHS, or the United States.  EXPLORE foodsystems.msu.edu EMAIL CRFS@msu.edu CALL 517-353-3535 FOLLOW @MSUCRFS ‌ ‌ ‌ FOODSYSTEMS.MSU.EDU You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the MIFARMTOSCHOOL and/or MIFARMTOECE listservs. You can update your subscriptions by clicking the "Update Profile" link below.

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems | 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824 Unsubscribe matts11.pikabo@blogger.com Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by crfs@msu.edu powered by Try email marketing for free today!

Gain Some Peace of Mind this Winter. Legal Workshops Going Fast!

Hi Folks,

As the winter begins, many farmers and ranchers are reviewing their business structures, considering diversification options, and developing strategic marketing goals and events for the upcoming year. Wintertime offers the perfect opportunity for farmers to jumpstart another season by resolving their legal vulnerabilities. At Farm Commons we believe:

Every farmer and rancher can build legal resilience.
Every agriculture support person can help them get there.  

Beginning in just two weeks, we are offering two online interactive workshops to help you realize this vision. Reserve your spot today because tickets are going fast.

Discovering Resilience empowers farmers and ranchers with the knowledge to identify and resolve their most pressing legal vulnerabilities. Upon completing this 5-week interactive workshop you'll learn the 10 best practices of farm legal risk management, build an individualized action plan so that you can take immediate steps to build your farm's legal resiliency, and connect with other farmers going through similar situations. 

Grab a spot in our Discovering Resilience Winter 2022 session:
Wednesdays (2-4pm CST), beginning on January 5

Guiding Resilience empowers agricultural support providers to guide farmers and ranchers towards resolution of their legal vulnerabilities. Be there for them when your producers ask legal questions without creating more risk (for yourself or anyone else). This 5-week interactive workshop keeps you engaged and gives you the info you need while networking with colleagues in the field.

Grab a spot in our Guiding Resilience Winter 2022 session:
Thursdays (2-4pm CST), beginning on January 6

Workshops are a free benefit of membership. Learn about joining our farm law community with a Producer Membership or Institutional Membership so you can get full access to our extensive library of resources and support materials.

If cost is a barrier- reach out. Scholarships are available.

Not sure if these workshops are right for you? Get a taste of what you have to gain by checking out our free tip sheet on sorting out the basics of agritourism legal risks! Also, check out our tip sheet on farm insurance, as it's the primary way to address the legal risk of liability for on-farm events.

Wishing you a wonderful and safe holiday season. 
Best, 
Rachel

MIFARMTOSCHOOL is a listserv that links farm-to-school stakeholders and practitioners in Michigan, from school food service directors and school administrators to growers and distributors. Content posted to MIFARMTOSCHOOL does not necessarily reflect the views of Michigan State University or the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.

Winter 2022 Farmer Support/Education and Legal Workshops

Hi Folks,

As the winter begins, many farmers and ranchers are reviewing their business structures, considering diversification options, and developing strategic marketing goals and events for the upcoming year. Wintertime offers the perfect opportunity for farmers to jump start another season by resolving their legal vulnerabilities. At Farm Commons we believe: 

Every farmer and rancher can build legal resilience.
Every agriculture support person can help them get there. 

Beginning in January, we're offering two online interactive workshops to support this vision: 

Discovering Resilience: A Legal Workshop for Farmers and Ranchers
Guiding Resilience: A Legal Workshop for Ag Service Providers

Find out more details below and by clicking on the links. 

Register Today, as spaces are limited!

Discovering Resilience empowers farmers and ranchers with the knowledge to identify and resolve their most pressing legal vulnerabilities. Upon completing this 5-week interactive workshop you'll learn the 10 best practices of farm legal risk management, build an individualized action plan so that you can take immediate steps to build your farm's legal resiliency, and connect with other farmers going through similar situations. 

Grab a spot in our Discovering Resilience Winter 2022 session:
Wednesdays (2-4pm CST), beginning on January 5

Guiding Resilience empowers agricultural support providers to guide farmers and ranchers towards resolution of their legal vulnerabilities. Be there for them when your producers ask legal questions without creating more risk (for yourself or anyone else). This 5-week interactive workshop keeps you engaged and gives you the info you need while networking with colleagues in the field.

Grab a spot in our Guiding Resilience Winter 2022 session:
Thursdays (2-4pm CST), beginning on January 6

Workshops are a free benefit of membership. Learn about joining our farm law community with a Producer Membership or Institutional Membership so you can get full access to our extensive library of resources and support materials.

If cost is a barrier- reach out. Scholarships are available.

Not sure if these workshops are right for you? Get a taste of what you have to gain by checking out our free tip sheet on sorting out the basics of agritourism legal risks! Also, check out our tip sheet on farm insurance, as it's the primary way to address the legal risk of liability for on-farm events.

Thanks, 

Rachel

MIFARMTOSCHOOL is a listserv that links farm-to-school stakeholders and practitioners in Michigan, from school food service directors and school administrators to growers and distributors. Content posted to MIFARMTOSCHOOL does not necessarily reflect the views of Michigan State University or the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.

Season's Greetings! ❄️

Join us in reflecting on 2021.

Season’s Greetings! At this time of year, there is greater focus on the seasonal rhythms that shape our lives, especially amidst the pace of modern life and ongoing uncertainties of the global pandemic.  There is comfort in knowing that we are in these seasons together, and in knowing that we are together as a community working to achieve regionally-rooted healthy, green, fair, and affordable food systems. We are grateful to be part of this community with you.   As we approach another year’s end, we want to wish you a very happy holiday season and we hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on important things that happened in your 2021, as we share some highlights from our year.   Values  In early 2021, our team re-centered on the values that collectively guide us in our work. These five core values are: collaboration, shared vision, place, equity, and accountability. Please visit our About Us page to read brief descriptions of what these mean to us, what we do, and how we do it.  People  We have had the good fortune to welcome three new people to our team in 2021:  Maria Graziani, Michigan Good Food Fund Specialist, Innovation Counselor  Megan McManus, Farm to Institution Fellow  Akasha Korzeniewski, Communications Intern  Visit their pages on our website to learn more about them and what they do at CRFS.  We also recognized Mike Hamm, Founding Director of MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, as he retired from Michigan State University in July.  New, renewed, and ongoing partnerships and programs  We share our gratitude for new and continued support from our funding partners in 2021. With support received this year, we are:  advancing health and equity through grassroots food policy with the Michigan Local Food Council Network, offering a farm management course tailored to farmers of color,  supporting connections between Michigan farmers and early care and education settings,   partnering with the State of Michigan to provide career advancement training opportunities for farmworkers,  evaluating impacts and implementation of the state-funded 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids and Farms program,  engaging Michigan farmers in creating trainings for beginning farmers, and   facilitating a learning community for North-Central states to build their capacity for statewide and regional food systems plans and charters.  We are also grateful for ongoing support that makes it possible for us to work toward health and economic development through resilient Michigan good food systems. A new Michigan Good Food Charter will be published in 2022!  The people and organizations we work with are essential to these efforts. Follow the links above and subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about some of our many collaborations.  The coming year  Lastly, we would like to share that 2022 will bring a new season for us. Our director Rich Pirog will transition away from MSU in spring 2022. We are grateful to Rich for his leadership as director since 2016 and as associate director from 2011-2015. The search for a new director will begin early next year.   We look forward to another year of high-impact programming, network-building, and collaboration in 2022. We invite you to partner with us to address the root causes that prevent people from having equitable access to healthy, affordable, and sustainably grown food. Please consider making a tax-deductible year-end gift to our general fund.  Peace and Health, Your friends at the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems  EXPLORE foodsystems.msu.edu EMAIL CRFS@msu.edu CALL 517-353-3535 FOLLOW @MSUCRFS ‌ ‌ ‌ FOODSYSTEMS.MSU.EDU Give Your gift will support a thriving economy, equity, and sustainability for Michigan, the nation, and the planet by advancing systems that produce food that is healthy, green, fair, and affordable.

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems | 480 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824 Unsubscribe matts11.pikabo@blogger.com Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by crfs@msu.edu powered by Try email marketing for free today!