Catalytic Investment Awards

Could your good food business use an investment?

Are you working to increase healthy food access and create jobs your community? Would an investment in your business spark change and help you grow?

The Michigan Good Food Fund is offering a new round of Catalytic Investment Awards designed to help mission-driven good food entrepreneurs take their business to the next level including preparing for financing. $250,000 in awards will be distributed.

This is our fourth round of Catalytic Investment Awards. View past award winners from 2016 and 2018 to see the businesses the awards have supported.

The application deadline was November 8, 2019. Winners will be announced in early December.

Eligibility

We’re on the lookout for Michigan-based enterprises that grow, process, distribute, make, and/or sell healthy food that is available and affordable to residents at all income levels. Healthy means whole, natural, and/or minimally processed food.

Preference will be given to businesses owned by entrepreneurs of color and women, as well as businesses that are creating jobs, sourcing locally, and are good environmental stewards.

Businesses must be generating revenue and demonstrate how this support will help them grow including preparing for financing within the next 18-24 months. Applicants can be nonprofit organizations, cooperatives, or for-profit entities.

Awardees must be able to travel to Detroit on December 12, 2019 to engage in a collaborative process with other awardees to determine the final amount of each award. All awardees will receive a minimum of $10,000. Through a facilitated process, each awardee will allocate an additional $40,000 among the group

Enterprises that have received a Michigan Good Food Fund Catalytic Investment Award in 2018 are eligible to apply for this round of awards.

Permitted Award Uses

Awards can be used for a range of purposes including:

  • Feasibility studies
  • Business planning
  • Predevelopment expenses
  • Project management
  • Construction
  • Equipment
  • Working capital
  • Inventory

Questions? We Can Help!

Please contact Mary Donnell, Program Manager, Michigan Good Food Fund at 313.300.0104 or mdonnell@capitalimpact.org.

Trouble with the Application Software? Please email Submittable at support@submittable.com.