Food Rescue Grant

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), through its Materials Management Division Recycling Unit, is offering funding through its Food Rescue Grant program to support efforts that advance food rescue and donation across the state of Michigan. EGLE is a state agency responsible for protecting environmental quality and public health by managing Michigan’s air, water, land, and energy resources. This grant aligns with statewide sustainability goals, including reducing food loss and waste by fifty percent and doubling food rescue efforts by the year 2030, as outlined in the Michigan Food Waste Roadmap. The purpose of this grant program is to fund projects that increase the diversion of edible, surplus food from landfills and ensure that such food is redirected for human consumption. The program emphasizes expanding food rescue infrastructure, increasing participation among food-generating businesses, and improving access to food donation systems. Applicants are expected to design projects that contribute measurable improvements in food recovery capacity, participation rates, and access to donation channels. Additional priorities include long-term sustainability of programs, collaboration with partners, incorporation of education and training components, and alignment with environmental justice and climate goals. Funding is provided through a reimbursement-based model, meaning grantees must incur and pay for costs prior to receiving reimbursement. The total funding available for the program is three million dollars, with individual awards ranging from five thousand dollars to two hundred fifty thousand dollars. All applicants are required to provide a minimum twenty percent match of the requested grant amount. Matching contributions may include cash or eligible financial sources, and all costs must comply with state policies and allowable expense guidelines. Funds must be fully expended by September 30, 2028, with the anticipated grant period running from August 1, 2026 through July 30, 2028. Eligible applicants include a wide range of Michigan-based entities such as nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, educational institutions, local governments, public authorities, and private sector businesses. Projects must focus specifically on rescuing edible food intended for human consumption. Eligible activities include the purchase and installation of infrastructure such as vehicles, cold storage, or processing equipment; implementation of supporting technology such as logistics or tracking software; and limited training directly tied to infrastructure or technology deployment. However, several costs are explicitly ineligible, including salaries, indirect costs, food purchases, travel expenses, and projects that do not result in food being used for human consumption. The application process requires submission through an online application system, including a detailed project proposal, itemized budget, and supporting documentation such as letters of commitment, price quotes, and relevant data. Applicants must clearly address program objectives, priorities, and required tasks, including implementation, training, and impact measurement. Proposals are evaluated based on eligibility compliance and alignment with program goals, with the possibility of clarification requests or negotiated revisions during the review process. Final awards require acceptance of all grant agreement terms and conditions. The application window opened on June 26, 2026, with proposals due by August 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. There is no pre-application requirement specified. Selected applicants will work closely with EGLE staff to finalize project scope, reporting requirements, and implementation details. The program does not explicitly state a recurring cycle, but it is tied to fiscal year funding and may be reissued in future cycles depending on appropriations. Contact for inquiries is provided through EGLE’s Recycling Unit, with a designated program contact available via email.

Demonstrate measurable increases in food rescue capacity; show strong partnerships and sustainability beyond grant period; align with environmental justice and climate goals