PUTTING MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS. The Menomonie Market Food Co-op is accepting new applications for its Fund Our Foodshed Grant program. This year, awardees could receive a total $6,000. Owners of Amery's Granja Las Aguilas LLC, one of the 2025 grant winners, pictured. (Submitted photo)

Through a myriad of community programming – hosted alongside both of its grub-filled Chippewa Valley locations – the Menomonie Market Food Co-op (MMFC) supports local and regional producers with grant dollars. As of Jan. 8, MMFC’s Fund Our Foodshed Grant program will now accept new applicants, poised to award more funds per recipient than ever before.

The Fund Our Foodshed Grant program was created in 2018 in an effort to support local farming operations, producers and small businesses. It specifically awards those seeking funds to help business productivity and growth by way of additional machinery and equipment, vehicles, supplies like animal feed, plant materials and more.

In its inaugural year, the program awarded a total $2,000. In 2025, MMFC distributed $19,000 in Fund Our Foodshed dollars, with a maximum award of about $5,000 per applicant.

This year, that number has increased. Grant applications are now open online through Feb. 16 with a maximum award amount per applicant of $6,000, an increase attributed to a variety of factors.

"With the growth of MMFC generally and so many more owners invested and shopping, we can do more in our communities including through the Fund Our Foodshed Grant program. Inflation is driving up costs for everyone, and our local food makers are no exception."

CRYSTAL HALVORSON

GENERAL MANAGER, MENOMONIE MARKET FOOD CO-OP

Eau Claire's Two Oven Bakery LLC was one of the 2025 grant winners. Owner Jen Monroe, pictured. (Submitted photo)

“Each year, Menomonie Market assesses the potential total spend on the grant program based on the amount of money collected through our Round Up for Good program, our own financial success and the needs of our other giving programs,” MMFC General Manager, Crystal Halvorson, said.

“With the growth of MMFC generally and so many more owners invested and shopping, we can do more in our communities including through the Fund Our Foodshed Grant program. Inflation is driving costs up for everyone, and our local food makers are no exception,” she noted.

Applicants must be located within 100 miles of either MMFC location and have been an established business for at least 12 months. Applicants must not have received MMFC grant funds, products or in-kind donations of $1,000-plus in the previous two years, and must propose a project which can be completed by Sept. 1, 2026.

A committee of co-op staff, co-op board members, co-op owners and past grant winners review the pool of applications and will ultimately award this year’s grants.

The 2025 grant awardees included Granja Las Aguilas LLC, which built an egg wash station and storage area; Good Root Growers, which used its funds for the realignment of greenhouse beds and development of water systems; Leah’s Canning Co., which made upgrades to improve canning and product labeling efficiencies; and Two Oven Bakery LLC, which upgraded equipment to enhance its production.

Learn more about and apply for the Fund Our Foodshed Grant program online at www.mmfc.coop/fundourfoodshed/. View all grant criteria and requirements online.