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west michigan

farmer of color land fund

the land fund supports the following counties:


Muskegon

Newaygo

Oceana

Osceola

Otsego

Ottawa

Roscommon

Saint Joseph

Van Buren

Wexford

Allegan

Antrim

Barry

Benzie

Berrien

Branch

Calhoun

Cass

Charlevoix


Clare

Clinton

Crawford

Eaton

Grand Traverse

Gratiot

Hillsdale

Ionia

Isabella

Kalamazoo

Kalkaska

Kent

Lake

Leelanau​

Macosta​

Manistee​

Mason​

Missaukee​

For the last 3 years we’ve been working towards ways the community can uplift ​farmers of color, therefore empowering the whole farming and broader ​community. The work of the land fund is reclaiming agricultural practices, which ​can rebuild a connection to land, community, and healthy foods. We know that ​having access to land empowers communities to be self-sufficient, food secure and ​resilient in the face of climate chaos and unstable global food systems. Our goal is ​to address past generational injustices by empowering the creation and expansion ​of pockets of BIPOC-owned green growing space in urban and rural settings of ​West Michigan. This is crucial to increasing food security and community resiliency. ​The land fund aims to support growers in acquiring and/or maintaining land assets. ​Land ownership is the only pathway towards a just, equitable and sustainable ​future for farmers. This mutual aid project reached its goal in February and will ​make the first awards by the end of 2024! See qualifications and how to apply ​below. Donate to the fund HERE!

Do you Qualify?

You are eligible to apply for funds if you meet all of the ​following:

    1. Have at least 2 years experience conducting farm ​related activities or working on a farm
    2. Have prospected spaces to purchase for farming ​and/or conservation efforts, or already have a small to ​medium-sized farm
    3. Have demonstrated financial need
    4. Identify as a ​historically underserved farmer
    5. Are currently farming or ​plan to farm in the land fun​d's target counties (see above)
    6. Are willing to sub​mit a W​9 and claim the award as income

Applications will be accepte​d until October 31st, decisions will be made by December 3​1, 2024. Applications that will support land purchasin​g, farm land expansion, or land retention will be prioriti​zed. Maximum awards are $10,000 with a total of​ $50,000 available for funding.

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Planting seeds

Selection Procees

  1. Review and Evaluation: Once applications are received, a ​panel including West Michigan Young Farmers Chapter ​leaders and other agriculture experts reviews each ​submission given there is no conflict of interest. The ​evaluation criteria include the impact of the funds to ​acquire or retain land, feasibility of the business plan and/or ​plan for the next growing season, the potential impact of ​the grant on the farm's success, and the overall benefit to ​the local community, environment, and economy.
  2. Interview and Site Visit Phase: The most promising ​applicants are then invited for an interview and/or asked to ​host a site visit. This gives the panel a chance to ask further ​questions and applicants the opportunity to clarify or ​expound upon their plans.
  3. Final Decision: After a thorough review and interview ​process, the panel makes a decision based on the merit of ​each application. Successful applicants are notified and the ​land fund award allocation process begins.

Apply for the

Land Fund ​Here!