MDARD, MI Ag Commission Award $400K in Grant Funding to Boost State Food and Ag Industry

By Lynsey Mukomel

the Michigan Commission on Agriculture and Rural Development approved $400,000 in Food and Agriculture Investment Program (FAIP) grants to Hildebrand Fruit, LLC and the City of Oak Park. The funding, awarded by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), will allow the businesses to build and expand their facilities, increase capacity and create four full-time and five part-time positions.

"The Food and Agriculture Investment Program is a cornerstone of MDARD's economic development strategy,"  said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "Today's grants advance MDARD's broader goals of strengthening Michigan's food supply chain, creating more economic opportunities for Michigan growers, and giving Michigan families more access to locally grown foods."

MDARD is awarding a $175,000 grant to support Hildebrand Fruit, LLC s $4 million expansion project. The expansion will enable the Berrien Springs company to double the square footage of their packing operation, introduce a more efficient layout to increase capacity and equipment options, and create two new positions.

"Our family is so appreciative of this support from MDARD. In 2027, we will celebrate 100 years as a family farm. As we have vertically integrated in the past 10 years, we have simply run out of room at our current facility and need to expand to support our growth,"  said Mike Hildebrand, Owner of Hildebrand Fruit, LLC. "This grant will help us position ourselves for the next generation, our employees, and our farm partners."