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Michigan Good Food Fund invests in food and farm businesses across the state, offering flexible financing and tailored business assistance that supports vibrant, equitable communities. We meet entrepreneurs where they are, connect them with what they need, and build long-term relationships that help their businesses thrive. As we work toward a more resilient, inclusive food industry, we focus on entrepreneurs whose access to power and capital has been historically limited because of their race, ethnicity, and/or gender. Our efforts are guided by the shared vision of our Stakeholder Board, a diverse group of entrepreneurs, farmers, funders, and policymakers with deep roots in Michigan.

The Michigan Good Food Fund was initiated in 2013 with a $3 million federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative award to Capital Impact Partners for use in Michigan.

It is modeled after the pioneering Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative, as well as the successful California FreshWorks Fund and similar statewide efforts in Illinois, Virginia, and elsewhere.

Michigan Good Food Fund’s work is guided by the shared vision of our Stakeholder Board—a diverse collective of people with deep roots in Michigan and a range of food industry careers. Some of them have received our loans in the past. Together, we work to ensure that our future investments reflect the priorities of the people and communities most affected by wealth inequities.

In 2021, Fair Food Network became the administrative manager of Michigan Good Food Fund. From 2015-2020, Capital Impact Partners led the administrative management of the Michigan Good Food Fund. In 2021, Fair Food Network transitioned into this role.

Michigan Good Food Fund was developed by four founding partners: Capital Impact Partners, Fair Food Network, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Initial funders, including The Kresge Foundation, Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, and Northern Trust Corporation also supported this innovative effort alongside federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative funding.

Visit our funders page for a complete list of current funders and our lending network page for a current list of lending partners.

Yes. The Michigan Good Food Fund presents a strategic opportunity for foundations and other investors looking to make an impact. We are specifically looking for flexible grant capital to support innovative projects or high impact borrowers that may be overlooked by traditional financing sources.

We invite interested partners to join us in this important effort. Connect with us today at info@MIGoodFoodFund.org.

The Michigan Good Food Fund is working to advance the following goals and priorities:

• Economic Development: Drive economic development and job creation to grow Michigan’s economy.
• Inclusive Food Industry: Ensure equitable access to food, jobs, ownership, and flexible investment capital.
• Local Sourcing: Increase the sourcing and supply of locally grown and regionally produced foods.

Drawing on our community connections and deep bench of industry experts, Michigan Good Food Fund helps food and farm businesses prepare for and secure the investments they need.

Our services include:

Flexible Financing: Our statewide lending network offers a wide range of loans and other financial products that can be used for equipment, inventory, property improvements, and more. Learn more about our financing services.

Tailored Business Assistance: Our one-on-one consulting helps businesses prepare for financing. We offer guidance on everything from filing taxes to marketing to opening up new sales channels. We also host periodic workshops tailored to specific locations or food business sectors. Learn more about our business assistance.

The goal of the fund is to impact all of Michigan by strengthening its food system, driving economic development and job creation, and creating a more inclusive, resilient food value chain in Michigan.

When Michigan Good Food Fund began, our work focused primarily on entrepreneurs providing healthy food to people across the state. Since then, our definition of “good food” has evolved beyond food that meets certain nutritional criteria; it’s about food that serves communities and strengthens the economy. Today, with the guidance of our Stakeholder Board, we prioritize funding and support for food and farm entrepreneurs who represent communities that have been marginalized due to race, ethnicity, and/or gender. Our goal is to help them prepare for and secure investment that will help their businesses grow and thrive.