About The Program
The Fund Our Foodshed Grant Program is an annual giving initiative that Menomonie Market Food Co-op created in 2018 to help rebuild our rural community.

The program is designed to:

(1) Provide crucial support for local farming operations

(2) Further our co-op’s mission to create a thriving and healthy foodshed by supporting the growth of regional farming, food processing, and product development in the Chippewa Valley

Every spring, grants are distributed to farmers and producers located within 100 miles of our stores for projects that procure equipment, increase efficiency, or contribute to the operation’s sustainability.

How The Program Is Funded
Fund Our Foodshed Grants are funded through contributions made by our shoppers through our Round Up for Good Program, another giving initiative through which our customers donate spare change by rounding up their in-store purchases at checkout. And they are funded by direct contributions from our co-op.

Who’s Eligible to Apply
Eligible applicants for a Fund Our Foodshed Grant include all farmers, producers, and processors who:

✓ Have businesses that are located within 100 miles of either our Menomonie or Eau Claire stores

✓ Have been established in their current business for at least 12 months prior to applying

✓ Have not received over $1K in grant funds, product, or in-kind donations from our co-op during the prior 2 years

Program Details
In 2024, three to four Fund Our Foodshed Grants for up $5,000 per project will be available. Funds may be used for the purchase of machinery, construction, supplies (plant materials, animals, feed, etc.), infrastructure development, services, or other resources necessary for increasing productivity or growing the applicant’s business. Awards include in-kind promotion of the project by Menomonie Market Food Co-op, including press releases, website and social media materials, and in-store promotion. Funding of a grant does not guarantee or imply that the co-op will purchase or sell the applicant’s product(s).

How Funds Are Awarded
A committee made up of co-op staff, co-op board members, co-op owners, and past grant winners will review applications and award the grants this year. The committee makeup changes from year to year and assesses the projects based on a set criteria as described in the document below.

New this year, the committee will aim to award two out of the three grants to current Menomonie Market Food Co-op suppliers and the third to a farmer, producer, or processor who is not currently a co-op supplier.

View Grant Assessment Criteria →

How To Apply
Farmers, producers, and processors who are eligible to apply for a Fund Our Foodshed Grant can do so by filling out the online application below or by downloading a print application and returning it to one of our stores. Please read through the grantee requirements and award criteria described in the document available for download below before doing so. Grant proposals are due by April 20, 2024, and a funding decision will be made by the Menomonie Market Food Co-op Grant Committee by May 13, 2024.

If you have questions, contact our Marketing Specialist Kelly via email at outreach@mmfc.coop or phone call at 715-231-3663, Ext. 223.

Download Grant Requirements & Print Application →

Apply Online