The Flint Farm Fund provides six-month grants up to $20,000 to gardeners and farmers in Genesee County. Funding is intended to support producers to expand their capacity to sell at market. The opportunity, led by Flint Innovative Solutions, intends to strengthen local food ecosystems, increase production and distribution capacity, and advance food sovereignty grounded in equity, cooperation, and self-determination.The fund prioritizes support for Black-led farms, urban growers, and community organizations in Genesee County.

The initiative is made possible through funding from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and a partnership with the Greater Flint Health Coalition. The Flint and Genesee Food Policy Council, the Multicultural Food Sovereignty Network and Edible Flint are additional partners on the project.

Application Steps/Timeline
  • Submit Application Deadline: Tuesday, December 8, 2026
  • Application Review Period: December through January
  • Finalists Selected and Announced: Monday, January 18, 2027
  • Finalist Gathering: Monday, January 18, 2027
  • Grant Period: February 2027 - July 31, 2027
  • Monthly Farmer Gatherings
  • Ongoing Support, Practicums and Training
  • Farmer Friday Podcast Features
  • Complete Midterm Report: Narrative, Budget Expenses to Date & Before and Mid-Point Photos by Wednesday, April 15, 2027
  • Project End Date: Sunday, August 1, 2027
  • Complete Final Report: Narrative, Budget Expenses & Before and After Photos by Sunday, August 15, 2027
Application Review

Strong applications have the following characteristics:
  • Project clearly demonstrates strong, direct benefit to the Genesee County community. Increases access to healthy, culturally relevant food; serves a defined population; and contributes meaningfully to community food distribution, education, or shared benefit.
  • Project plan is realistic, well-organized, and achievable within the 6-month funding period. Timeline is clear and the applicant demonstrates readiness to implement immediately.
  • Project strongly reflects food sovereignty principles, including community control, equity, cultural relevance, cooperation, and local self-determination.
  • Budget is clear, reasonable, and well-aligned with project activities. Costs are justified and proportional to the scope of work.
  • Team demonstrates strong relevant experience, skills, or lived knowledge necessary to successfully implement the project.
Technical Assistance

Need assistance? Receive support with the application including any questions you may have on the process in-person or virtually.

Dates and times of support are:
  • Tuesdays 10-3pm - in-person support at Flint Innovative Solutions
  • Thursdays 10-6pm - virtually (by appointment)
Please email: flinteats@flintinnovativesolutions.org for more information or to schedule an appointment.

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1. Organization (Required.)

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2. Primary Person Contact (Required.)

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3. Primary Person Contact's Role with the Business/Organization (Required.)

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4. Preferred Method of Contact (Required.)

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5. Primary Contact Gardener/Farmer Experience (Required.)

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6. Number of Staff Members (Required.)

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7. Number of Yearly Volunteers (Required.)

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8. Are youth under 18 involved on your garden/farm? (Required.)

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9. Are seniors 65+ involved on your garden/farm? (Required.)

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10. Does your entity utilize a fiscal sponsor? (Required.)

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11. Is your farm or garden supported by Extension Master Gardener Volunteers? (Required.)

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12. Are you a member of the Flint & Genesee Food Policy Council? (Required.)

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13. Have you purchased a garden kit from Edible Flint in recent years? (Required.)

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14. Have attended a Edible Flint Twilight Grower Gatherings in the past? (Required.)

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15. Please identify membership of any other food based organizations. (Required.)

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16. What is your ethnicity or which ethnicities are represented on your team? (Required.)

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17. Location of your garden/farm or future site.

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18. Add Photo of Site (Optional): (Required.)

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19. The land is owned by: (Required.)

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20. How long has the site been in cultivation for garden/farm use? (Required.)

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21. Garden/Farm Type (Required.)

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22. Describe your water source: (Required.)

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23. Describe your watering system: (Required.)

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24. Do you currently sell the food you produce?
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25. What is your current estimated annual yield if applicable? (Required.)

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26. Do you have a farm stand on the site? (Required.)

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27. Are you a vendor at Farmers’ Markets in Genesee County? (Required.)

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28. Have you sold the food you produced externally to other outlets outside of Farmers’ Markets? (Required.)

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29. Do you have a FARM tract number? (Required.)

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30. Are you registered on the Flint Eats App? (Required.)

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31. Are you interested in being featured on the Farmer Friday Podcast? (Required.)

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32. Have you participated in any previous garden/farm training?

For example, MSU Student Organic Farmer Training; Edible Flint Garden Partnership Program; University Training, etc) (Required.)

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33. What is the most challenging problem you face in garden/farming in Genesee County? (Required.)

Project Questions

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34. Total Amount of Your Request

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35. What is the primary purpose of your project and what do you plan to accomplish?

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36. What do you intend to grow/farm during the project timeframe?

Please specify the vegetables, fruits, herbs, animals and any other items.

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37. What are your projected outcomes and goals?

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38. Describe your garden/farm business model:

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39. Who is part of your implementation team?

Please include their names, brief background and their ages. This includes volunteers and skilled experts; gardeners, farmers, etc.

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40. Describe how your project funds will be used.

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41. Evaluation

How will you evaluate the success of your project?

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42. Project Documentation

How do you plan to document the project’s progress?

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43. Sustainability

Budgets

Please use the following template for your budget:Flint Farm Fund Project Budget - Template.xlsx - Google Sheets

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44. Please Upload Your Budget (Required.)

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