Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub
Center for Regional Food Systems is the Michigan state lead for the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub. The Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub is a USDA-funded grant-making initiative to reimagine school meals. We are committed to providing our nation’s children nutritious meals that improve their health and set them up for bright futures. We aim to build a resilient food supply chain through innovation, and we aim to create a food system that develops nutritious foods for schools through industry partnerships.
Our initiative offers funding, training, and other assistance to partnerships that include farmers, food producers, suppliers, distributors, schools, and organizations.
Visit innovateschoolfood.org for the most up to date grant information.
Explore resources, join office hours, and connect with the state team. We welcome local and regional food system leaders across Michigan!
View the informational video linked here to learn more about Innovation Hub opportunities for Michigan communities and visit the support for applicants page.
Michigan Open Office HoursJulie Lehman and May Tsupros with Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems are here to answer your questions and offer help. They can help Michigan applicants develop project ideas, form and manage partnerships, strengthen your grant writing, and connect you with resources. Join Open Office Hours:
Zoom link: https://msu.zoom.us/j/5658155119 Meeting ID: 565 815 5119 |
Compliance SupportMariela Medina with the Illinois Public Health Institute can help you understand federal grant compliance, including qualification, ensuring proper management practices, and fulfilling grant requirements. Online Compliance Support:
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En Español
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El Centro de Innovación del Sistema Alimentario Escolar del Lago Michigan
El Centro de Innovación del Sistema Alimentario Escolar del Lago Michigan es una iniciativa de concesión de subvenciones financiada por el USDA que reinventa las comidas de los estudiantes.
Updates
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Michigan Organizations Receive Funding to Strengthen Local School Food System through Innovation Hub
Published on June 29, 2026
Five Michigan organizations will receive grant awards up to $200,000 per year from the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub to expand access to local, healthy, and delicious food in schools. -
Now Open for Applications! Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub Spark and Innovation Collaboration Awards
Published on October 17, 2025
The Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub supports people working to improve school meals across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Two grant opportunities are available for up to $200,000 per year. Apply by January 23, 2026. -
Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub Launches in Michigan to Revolutionize Our Region’s School Food System
Published on January 27, 2025
Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub offers grants up to $100,000 to build pathways for local and nutritious food to reach more schools across Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana. -
Partridge Creek Farm Cooks Up a Recipe for Success with Partners
Published on January 2, 2025
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Michigan Awarded Two Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub Grants
Published on July 15, 2024
Michigan organizations to receive awards from the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation hub to build more local, more nourishing, and more loving school food systems in Michigan.
2024 Grantees
The Illinois Public Health Institute and the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub has announced their first round of 16 recipients for the Spark and Innovation Collaborative Awards.
Spark Awards
- Greater Wabash Food Council, Illinois
Planting Farm2School in Southeastern Illinois - Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Michigan
Workshops to Expand Local Purchasing in Schools - Northeast Wisconsin (NEW) Hmong Professionals, Wisconsin
Introducing Hmong Cultural Food to the School System - Rooted School Indy, Indiana
Rooted School Indy Food System Hub Strategic Planning - Rooted WI, Inc., Wisconsin
Growing for Schools - The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, Wisconsin
Growing Capacity and Connections for Hmong Focused Farm to School - The Common Market Great Lakes, Illinois
Lowering Adoption Barrier to Regionally Sourced Foods in Chicagoland Schools
Innovation Collaborative Award
- Artisan Grant Collaborative, Illinois
Grains to Trays II - Beyond Green, Illinois
Buy Local, Cook Fresh Illinois - FoodRight Inc., Wisconsin
Good School Food - Hundred Acre LLC, Wisconsin
Bringing Fresh Salad Greens to Schools in Wisconsin - Madison Consolidated Schools, Indiana
Growing Minds - Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Wisconsin
Rising Suns - Partridge Creek Farm, Michigan
Food Futures - REAP Food Group, Wisconsin
School Nutrition Culinary Innovators of Tomorrow - Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative, Wisconsin
Building a Farm to School Logistics and Pricing Model for the Great Lakes Region
The Illinois Public Health Institute and the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub will work with the Spark and Innovation Collaborative Awards recipients throughout the grant period to support school food system and marketplace improvements and promote systems-level change.
The Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub is funded through the U. S. Department of Agriculture and convened by the Illinois Public Health Institute.
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