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ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The Micro Grants For Micro Food Manufacturing Program from The Market Entry Fund (or The Micro Grants) supports small-scale producers and manufacturers of packaged food and beverage for the CPG market. The objective of the grant program is to bolster the financial capability of emerging packaged food businesses that are owned by entrepreneurs of color, women, veterans and other individuals demonstrating systemic barriers to equitable participation and opportunities in this sector, in Minnesota.
In 2024, micro-grants of various levels will be provided to an estimated 10-15 businesses, based on the business’ stage of operations, gross sales revenue, needs and opportunities. Levels may range between $5,000 up to $20,000 per grant.
Given limited funds, we ask that past grantees wait at least two years before re-applying to this grant program. This means that grantees from 2022 and 2023 (receiving any amount), are ineligible to re-apply this year.
POSSIBLE USES OF FUNDS
Applicants can propose how they would like to use the funds, and uses for the micro-grants are flexible and open. However, we are looking for proposals that have specific and pre- identified uses that can “alleviate or free the business from a specific challenge” and help propel the business forward to the next level – “whatever that next level” may mean for the business. Once a proposal has been selected for a grant, funds must be used for the purpose(s) outlined in that proposal. Applicants are highly encouraged to assess and know their business needs and opportunities well before applying.
New for 2024! Grant amounts have increased and are based on your business size as indicated by your gross sales revenue and number of years in operation.
Ineligible Activities/Uses: Funds awarded may not be used to cover standard and ongoing business operational costs, such as costs associated with staffing, rent or brick-n-mortar expenses, utilities, and other fixed costs. While proposed uses related to marketing/branding, planning and coaching are now acceptable, such proposed uses must be specific, time-bound, and tied to specific objectives.
THE APPLICATION APPROACH
To minimize the burden on applicants in our approach to allocating resources, especially in the communities where resources are already limited, we work hard to adhere to these principles: simple and user-friendly; open, inclusive and responsive to business/community needs; do the most good or have the most impact on the business; and steward well the funds from our donors.
A diverse, community-based committee with individuals who have experience in small businesses, grant reviews, food and beverage industry and other relevant experiences, will review the grant applications and help decide grant awards.
The Application is a simple Google Form with short (often multiple-choice questions) and a few questions that require a thorough narrative from the applicant. Link to the Google Application Form here.
To help the applicant prepare and gather information beforehand, a PDF guide with a preview of the questions is available for download. We highly recommend downloading the PDF guide and carefully reviewing the information before starting on the online Google Application Form. (Download a copy of the Application Guide below).
Submitting your application via the Google Application Form is the preferred method. A link to this Application Form will be available here when the application cycle opens on March 1st. All parts of the application must be completed. Incomplete applications will not be acceptable. Only applications from the google form will be accepted, unless another prior arrangement has been made with TMEF staff.
KEY DATES FOR THE 2024 CYCLE
Application Information Session: March 1, 2024
Application Opens: March 1, 2024
Application Closes: May 2, 2024
Application Review: May – July 2024
Grant Decisions & Announcement: August 2024
Grant Agreements & Disbursements: September 2024
Falcon Heights – 3 Bear Oats, founded by Therese Moore, is a maker of heat and ready to eat flavored oatmeal bowls. Over the years, 3 Bear Oats has consistently offered four distinctive flavors sold in the frozen section - each a meal in its own.
Grant Focus: increase productivity through the addition of an automated filling system to speed up the process of filling the flavored oat blends into the bowls.
Le Sueur - A Tiny Homestead, is a farm south of the Twin Cities owned and operated by Mary Lewis since 2021. It supplies fresh produce directly to communities through a farm share subscription as well as through local grocery stores.
Grant Focus: keep operations going and meet demand during the MN winter months, by building an additional heated greenhouse on the farm.
Moorhead - Doubting Thomas Farm is owned and operated by Noreen Thomas, with help from her daughter-in-law. The focus - grow whole grains that are made into cereal, pancake mixes, and other products. It is expanding beyond the Moorhead area.
Grant Focus: improve packaging to be more competitive in a wider market, than just the immediate communities surrounding the farm.
Cottage Grove - Brand new Premiere Organix, founded by Olamide Olatunbosun, launch its new beverage called Eso this year. Eso is a plant-powered shake made from water, tiger nuts, coconuts, and dates.
Grant Focus: increase production and enable entry into key markets including e-commerce platforms.
St. Paul - Grlk is a garlic-based sauce maker, with multiple flavor-blends. Based on Founder, Peter Chehadeh's Lebanese grandmother’s recipe, this sauce comes in multiple flavors and blends.
Grant Focus: commercial labeling machine that will automate the packaging process and cut labor time.
Eagan - Kalahari Associates' two founders are driven to share their Peanut Brizzle - a peanut snack inspired by their Ghanaian heritage. The product is now sold at local events and markets.
Grant Focus: nutritional labeling and other regulatory needs, as well as packaging design and printing.
Minneapolis - K-Mama Sauce makes vegan Korean sauces –by KC Kye. K-Mama produces multiple flavors that are sold in various stores, including a national retailer and online platforms. To maintain his lead, KC continues to get his brand out into unique (chance of a life time) venues that give potential customers a tasty preview.
Grant Focus: position the brand for higher sales and distribution by showcasing during the 12 days of the MN State Fair.
Roseville – Founder Charles Lovejoy started out as a bartender about two decades ago. Today, he makes his own line of Bloody Mary mixes and supplies bars, restaurants and retail stores throughout the Twin Cities, as well as various online platforms that help him distribute beyond MN.
Grant Focus: access tradeshows and development opportunities to increase the founder and his team's business & industry acumen.
St Paul - Maytown Foods started 2022 by Shan Colombus. Maytown produces chili sauce. The sauce can be found in a few Twin Cities grocery stores already. Shan hopes to grow beyond in the coming years. To do so means increasing her ability to produce more. She is working on her capacity to do this well.
Grant Focus: purchase small equipment to speed up the self-production process, including a commercial sanitizer washer.
St. Paul - Per Se is a ready-to-drink mocktail producer that launched in 2021, by Hally Turner who wants to enable gatherings where diverse tastes and preferences are celebrated. Its non-alcohol drink products are all natural with familiar ingredients and half the sugar.
Grant Focus: support the process of developing a new flavor.
Dayton - Please and Thank You Granola (P&TY) is a 4-year company founded by Brit Williams. P&TY offers bags of granola mixes and pocket-size bars for the on-the-go in a variety of flavors and blends. Products are sold in local co-ops and neighborhood stores.
Grant Focus: development, testing, and launch of a new peanut-free bar.
Newport - Uprooted is a new coffee business started by Saengmany Ratsabout and Gao Lee. Uprooted roasts whole beans originated from Southeast Asia, a new region to enter the global coffee industry. Its products are available in bags of whole roasted beans.
Grant Focus: purchase commercial-grade grinder to add ground coffee to its selection; and also help with branding and marketing.
Falcon Heights -Rachel Banken of Well Rooted Teas crafts loose-leaf teas from foraged botanicals found on local farms and forests native to Minnesota. Its infusions of herbs, roots, leaves, fruits and berries nourish the body and are grown and harvested in a manner that preserve the environment too.
Grant Focus: purchase a dry-pack filling machine to increase packaging process.
Roseville – Founder Charles Lovejoy started out as a bartender about two decades ago. Today, he makes his own line of Bloody Mary mixes and supplies bars, restaurants and retail stores throughout the Twin Cities, as well as various online platforms.
Grant Focus: access tradeshows and development opportunities to increase the team's business & industry acumen.
Cottage Grove - Brand new Premiere Organix, founded by Olamide Olatunbosun, launch its new beverage called Eso this year. Eso is a plant-powered shake made from water, tiger nuts, coconuts, and dates.
Grant Focus: increase production and enable entry into key markets including e-commerce platforms.
Minneapolis - Ooyoo is the creation of a husband-and-wife team, Ahreum Kim and Nick Ng. It is a representation their values around culture, family, creativity, community, and nourishment. Inspired by their travels and Korean culture, Ooyoo taps into new flavors and traditions to bring an all-purpose spread that everyone can enjoy.
Grant Purpose: purchase equipment to help increase production capabilities
Minneapolis – Apasa means reciprocity/fellowship in Hindi – values that Founder Shalini Gupta draws on to shape the transparency and linkage between land, farmers and the food that sustains us. Maker of a flatbread free of toxins but also freshly made with whole grain stone milled flour and high oleic oil.
Grant Purpose: consultant work on product improvement and processing equipment.
Minneapolis – Big Flower Botanicals Founders Jennifer Trebisovsky & Justin Banda seek to expand their CBD lemonade experiment to encompass more CBD food products. The goal - pairing products to pain to people with topicals, beverages and tinctures. They want to demystify CBD and help it become a resource for wellness.
Grant Purpose: source larger quantities of CDB ingredients and increase volume.
Roseville – Founder Charles Lovejoy started out in bars and restaurants as a bartender. Twenty years later – he has his own brand of Bloody Mary mixes - in multiple flavors and sizes for bars, homes and more. Honored last year as a General Mills recipient of their Good Works Project, LBMM’s products are not only good – they “do good” by donating proceeds to homeless youth and education.
Grant Purpose: new product development (esp. flavor profiling, labeling, and packaging for the new product).
Minneapolis – Route to India’s ancient super seed snack (puffed water lily seeds), affectionately called Yoga Pops, is a labor of love, collaboration and passion for founders and life partners Nalini Mehta and Anita B. With a brand mantra of “Mindful Munching,” RTI aligns holistic, personalized wellness, with Ayurvedic principles and healthy snacking.
Grant Purpose: purchase equipment to strengthen and automate the production - increasing yields 6x more than current levels.
Richfield – Social Mixers believe flowers don’t just belong in a vase and herbs are more than garnish. Its botanical syrups are blended to create perfect beverages for all occasions and health benefits. The goal: a natural craft beverage ingredient company with product lines that are accessible to all, and includes bitters, shrubs/drinking vinegars, and infusion kits of dried herbs and fruit.
Grant Purpose: purchase 4-bottling hot filling machine to increase unit production
Excelsior – Founder Henry Kisitu’s Jajja Wellness tonics originated in his Ugandan grandmother’s kitchen. She was an African herbal medicine woman, worked as a nurse, and knew principles of Chinese medicine. Today, Jajja Wellness has an expanded line of tonics, loaded with natural, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, the top sellers come directly from Grandmother’s and African indigenous recipes.
Grant Purpose: Secure co-manufacturing contract with a reliable co-packer in the Midwest region.
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