LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for its Food Safety Education Fund grant program.

The focus for the RFP is on food safety, education and training, according to the Sept. 23 announcement. Proposals must be received at MDARD by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24.

The Food Safety Education Fund was established under the Michigan Food Law of 2000 and is funded through assessments of $3-$5 from each Michigan food establishment license. Up to $250,000 is available in the fund for the 2015 food safety education and training grant cycle.

The grants are competitive and meant to fund training and education to consumers on food safety, as well as training and education to food service establishment employees and employees of MDARD who enforce the state’s food regulations. Entities eligible to receive grants include Michigan governmental and non-profit organizations. Producers, marketers and growers are not eligible for this grant; however, proposals with sub-grantees will be considered, according to the announcement.

Recent grant recipients include Michigan State University extension, which received a $21,629 grant to conduct a retail grocery food safety campaign; the Dairy Industry Conference, which received a $15,000 grant to “provide training and professional growth opportunities to Michigan’s dairy industry and regulatory personnel”; and Michigan Farmers Assoc., which applied for a grant to train farmers in food safety matters who are engaged in direct marketing. That included farmer-to-farmer training sessions.

Other recent grant applicants included Michigan Food and Farming Systems, which had a project to interview Michigan State University Product Center clients to find out what they thought were hindrances to becoming food industry entrepreneurs. MSU extension also sought a separate grant to provide training on food safety related to the cottage food law. Participants were to receive a certificate of completion.

An advisory committee will convene in November to review, score and rank proposals and make funding recommendations to MDARD. Grants will be awarded for projects that run from Jan.1-Dec. 31, 2015. Multi-year proposals will be considered on an individual basis, contingent on future year funding. Completed proposals should be sent to MDA-fooddairyinfo@michigan.gov

Electronic submission of grant proposals is encouraged and will be confirmed via email receipt, according to the announcement. Hard-copy submissions must be postmarked or faxed no later than Oct. 24. Applications sent through the mail should go to Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Food & Dairy Division, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909. The fax number for submissions is 517-373-3333.

For more information, contact Tim Slawinski, emerging issues specialist, at 517-420-5364 or slawinskit@ michigan.gov An electronic copy of the RFP, including grant criteria, is available on the department’s website at www.michigan.gov/mdard