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Meet Our Collaborative Support Network

At the core of the Michigan Good Food Fund lies an ecosystem comprising lenders, technical experts, visionary lenders, and dedicated support staff — all committed to your success.

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Our Lending Network

Our lending network is pivotal to our mission, offering essential financial support and resources to support local food and farm businesses. Together, we're growing a more resilient, inclusive local food system.

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Stakeholder Board

Our initiatives are steered by our Stakeholder Board, comprising of individuals with diverse backgrounds across Michigan’s food value chain, some of whom have benefitted from our loans in the past. Collaboratively, we strive to align future investments with the needs and priorities of communities disproportionately impacted by wealth disparities.

April Anderson

Co-Owner/CEO, Good Cakes and Bakes | Detroit Metro

Terri Barker

Economic and Community Development Analyst, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development | Statewide

Brittany Bradd

Greydale Farms | Detroit Metro

Carolyn Cassin

President & CEO, Michigan Women Forward General Partner & Co-Founder, The BELLE Michigan Impact Fund | Detroit Metro

Dan Cornelius

Technical Assistance Specialist, Intertribal Agriculture Council - Great Lakes | Northwest

Charles Donaldson

Senior Community Assistance Team Specialist (Region 6), MEDC | East Michigan

Juan Escareño

Government and Community Relations Director, Midwest Independent Retailers Association | Detroit Metro

Kiar Gamsho

Owner/Director of Operations, Park Street Market | Southwest Michigan

Matt Gougeon

General Manager, Marquette Food Co-op | Upper Peninsula

Jerry Hebron

Executive Director, Oakland Avenue Urban Farm | Detroit Metro

Ana Jose

Program Manager, Transformando West Michigan | West Michigan

Daniel Marbury

Program Coordinator, Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology | Northwest

Rebecca O’Connell

Government Affairs Manager, Lake Trust Credit Union | Statewide

Brandon Seng

Director of Programs, Eastern Market Partnership | Detroit Metro

Jamie Rahrig, MPH, RDN

Michigan Good Food Fund Specialist & Innovation Counselor, MSU CRFS and Product Center | Statewide

Darel Ross

Director, Start Garden | West Michigan

John Schoeniger

Loan Fund Manager, Detroit Development Fund  | Detroit Metro

Kaja Thornton

Founder & CEO, Kaja’s Flavor LLC | West Michigan

Tony Vu

Owner/Operator, MaMang, The Good Bowl, and Flint Social Club | Northern Michigan and Flint Metro

Adrienne Wolff

Farmer and Owner, Buckwheat’s Market Garden  | Northwest

Milinda Ysasi

CEO, GROW | West Michigan

Support Team

Our administrative partners at Fair Food Network provide expertise, guidance, and unwavering support to food and farm entrepreneurs across Michigan.

Aaron W. Jackson

Program Director

Aaron leads the investment process of the Michigan Good Food Fund and oversees its portfolio management. He collaborates closely with the lending network’s Stakeholder Board, which establishes the organization’s vision and priorities, channels community input, and ensures accountability to those it aims to serve.

Shakir Bralock

Investment Manager

Shakir has 15 years of experience as a banking center manager where he worked at various banking centers throughout southeastern Michigan. Shakir was most recently a Loan Officer at a Michigan based CDFI where he worked directly with entrepreneurs in securing lending and technical services for their business.

Shakir has a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from Western Michigan University where he majored in Finance and Marketing. Shakir and his wife have two daughters ages 12 and 16 and he spends his time listening to music, watching sports and traveling.

Carlos Santacruz

Investment Manager

Carlos supports Michigan Good Food Fund’s lending and investing initiatives throughout the state. He collaborates closely with the lending network’s partners to facilitate financing to food and farm businesses.

Our Funders

Together with our funders, we are committed to making investments in food and farm businesses that reflect the priorities of the people and communities most affected by wealth inequities.

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Become a Funder

Join us in supporting food and farm businesses that spark local economies and drive direct benefit for our communities.

To learn more, reach us at info@MIGoodFoodFund.org

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