Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub

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.  

Applications for the 2025 Spark and Innovation Collaborative Awards are closed. 

We expect Awardees to be announced in Summer 2026. Please check back in fall 2026 for the opportunity to apply for another round of Spark Award applications. 

Spark Awards:

  • Spark Awards fund projects that need a short-term infusion of funds for school food system and product improvements, such as capacity-building, planning, and product-testing projects. ($30K - $100K per year)

 Visit innovateschoolfood.org for the most up to date grant information.  

View the informational video linked here to learn more about Innovation Hub opportunities for Michigan communities and visit the support for applicants page. 

 

 

Take the first step in learn about the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub by filling out the Interest Form linked here. Then explore resources, join office hours, and connect with the state team. We welcome local and regional food system leaders across Michigan! 

Learn More

The final opportunity to apply for a Spark Award will open in fall 2026. Our team is here to help you get ready for application season.

Michigan Open Office Hours 

Julie 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:

  • Tuesday, 10:30 – 11:30 am ET (Julie Lehman)

  • Wednesday, 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET (May Tsupros)

Zoom link: https://msu.zoom.us/j/5658155119 

Meeting ID:  565 815 5119 
Passcode: lovelocal 

Compliance Support 

Mariela 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:  

  • Wednesday, Noon-1pm ET  Join Here!  
  • Tuesday and Thursday, 5-6pm ET Join Here!  
  • By appointment. Email or call (224) 347-4987. 
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En Español

Updates

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. 

Center for Regional Food Systems

Farm to Institution/School

Food System Infrastructure, Planning and Policy

Farm and Food Business Development