LANSING, Mich. — More than $1.8 million in Strategic Growth Initiative (SGI) grants has been awarded to 16 projects in Michigan.
Administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), SGI aims at breaking down barriers inhibiting the growth of Michigan’s food and agriculture industry.
It also focuses on fostering economic opportunities for state-based food processors, agri-businesses and those involved in food production.
The Michigan Bean Commission (MBC) was awarded $200,000 to continue working on developing a new type of flour derived from dry beans. According to MBC Executive Director Joe Cramer, it received an SGI grant last year, which funded research focused on the milling quality of different bean varieties to determine if certain ones would produce flour more suitable for use in baking and other food production.
This year’s grant will fund continuation of that research, as well as studying economic impacts of the new product, and developing markets and marketing initiatives. The MBC is working with the Michigan State University Product Center on issues such as labeling and packaging.
"We have identified a couple of bakeries that are really interested in this type of product," Cramer said.
"We will work with them on some recipe type issues."
With 1,100 growers who produce beans in 44 counties, he said researchers are hopeful the development of this flour will open up new markets for the state’s dry bean industry, beyond traditional canned bean products.
"I’ve spent my career chasing more cans of baked beans," Cramer said. "This is an alternative that we think can expand our market share a little bit, and it’s a great health story to tell. We’ve tasted everything from crackers to chocolate pudding that’s made with the product.
"We feel like we’ve kind of topped out our ability to sell beans the way we have in the past. We’re optimistic this will open some new doors to us. We see this as a real positive both in job growth and market share."
Montcalm Community College was awarded a $90,350 grant to build a greenhouse on the college’s main campus in Sidney to enhance curriculum in the field of agricultural sciences. In addition to construction of the greenhouse, the grant will fund joint program development initiatives between MCC and MSU.
MCC President Bob Ferrentino said the award is a monumental step in supporting the college’s efforts to build its agricultural offerings. "We are an agricultural community, and this grant will help us enhance our facilities so we can grow our training for workers in one of our state’s largest industries – agriculture."
According to Vice President for Student & Academic Affairs Rob Spohr, planning is underway for the greenhouse and construction is expected to be completed in the spring, with the greenhouse operational by next summer.
"The greenhouse will support existing coursework in crop and soil science, and botany," Spohr said. "It also will create opportunities for new programming to be developed."
Earlier this year, MCC and MSU strengthened their partnership when they signed an agreement that brought MSU’s two-year agricultural operations, applied horse science, fruit and crop management and landscape management programs to MCC this fall.
The agreement between MCC and MSU’s Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT) will help students earn an associate degree at MCC while at the same time earning a two-year certificate at MSU.
This partnership allows students to access resources in academics, financial aid, career services and student life at both institutions.
Students completing one of these programs may transfer to a four-year agricultural program at MSU when admission requirements are met.
The SGI grant program is a direct result of Gov. Rick Snyder’s 2011 Summit on Production Agriculture and recommendations from the state House Agriculture Subcommittee on Agricultural Pro-cessing.
Other 2015 grant recipients include: Northern United Brewing Co. LLC, $200,000; MSU Upper Peninsula Research & Extension Center, $84,512; Connected Nation through Connect Michigan, $193,724; The Right Place, Inc., $30,000; Prima Civitas, $40,231; County of Marquette, $127,300; Village of Edmore, $13,000; Hopeful Harvest Foods, $200,000; MBG Marketing, $152,927; Michigan Wheat Program, $76,672; Monroe County Business Development Corp., $61,960; MSU Integrated Plant Systems, $177,982; MSU Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences, $99,984; and MSU Product Center, $98,107.
