Make it Minnesota Marketing Investment Cost-Share Program is sponsored by Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). This program helps Minnesota consumer packaged goods (CPG) food, beverage, or pet food companies, cooperatives, or Tribal entities grow by matching their investments in a variety of high-impact marketing activities.

It reimburses 50% of eligible marketing investments, with specific exceptions for store demos, booth space at Minnesota Pavilion events, and “Walk the Floor” mentorships.

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Minnesota Department of Agriculture Business Dev, Loans, Grants Food Business Development Make it Minnesota Cost-Share Program Our AGRI Make it Minnesota Marketing Investment Cost-Share Program can help your Minnesota consumer packaged goods (CPG) food, beverage, or pet food company, cooperative, or Tribal entity grow by matching your investments in a variety of high-impact marketing activities .

Learn more about CPGs in the definitions section below. General program rules and eligibility We've budgeted $400,000 to match eligible marketing investments made in fiscal year 2026 (FY26), which runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Funding for this program comes from the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program .

General program rules and eligibility The cost-share program "matches" (reimburses 50% of) eligible investments, with the exception of store demos that are executed by founders or staff; booth space at Minnesota Pavilion events; and “Walk the Floor” mentorships, which are reimbursed as outlined below.

Annual cost-share limits – New for FY26: The maximum annual reimbursement per eligible entity in FY26 is: $4,000 for brands manufactured in Minnesota $3,000 for brands who otherwise qualify but manufacture elsewhere Minnesota Pavilion booth space discounts and “walk the floor mentorship” reimbursements do not count towards annual cost-share program limits, and reimbursement for those eligible activities may take priority over other reimbursements as resources are allocated at the end of the state fiscal year.

Entities that win awards at MDA-sponsored events may exceed annual reimbursement limits by the amount of that award.

To be eligible, you must: Be a Minnesota-based company or cooperative, registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State , as defined below; AND offer a branded CPG food, beverage, or pet food product, as defined below; AND be a small-to-medium enterprise, which we define as an entity with fewer than 500 employees (grower cooperatives are exempt from this qualification); AND be a current holder of an MDA Food License (either your own or that of a Minnesota co-manufacturer that you use).

Eligibility rule exceptions: If you hold a municipal food license or permit and if the MDA has given delegated authority to the municipality, provision of your municipal license or permit provides eligibility. If you grow and sell products of the farm (see Food Licensing Exclusions and Exemptions ), you may be exempt from eligibility rule #4 above. Minnesota Tribal entities may be exempt from eligibility rules #1 and #4 above.

Participation in Minnesota Pavilion events is allowed for Minnesota entities who do not meet eligibility rules #3 and #4 above; however, entities larger than 500 employees are not eligible for reimbursement with the exception of Minnesota grower cooperatives. This program is not for brokers or distributors, retailers, or other re-sellers. Cottage food producers are not eligible for this program.

By applying to this program, you agree to: Promptly return surveys (post-event and follow-up) that ask for information including the number of leads generated and sales projections. Keep receipts and records for six years and make them available for audit or inspection by the MDA or state auditor on request.

We reserve the right to deny claims from entities not in good standing with the State, or those who do not comply with the program requirements. We process applications as they come in (first-come, first-served) until the application deadline or the funds are gone, whichever is first. Note: If funds remain through the end of FY26, the final application deadline is July 10, 2026 .

Apply for reimbursement . If you are a new user, you will need to create an account. Once you are logged in, select "Make it Minnesota: Marketing Investment Cost-Share Program (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026)."

If this is your first time applying for reimbursement, you must also submit a Request for Taxpayer ID and Certification (W-9) by either: Uploading a completed and signed IRS form W-9 (PDF) , or Within the application system, completing the online W-9 PowerForm hosted by DocuSign, our secure signing system. Include proof of payment (receipts or invoices with a zero balance) for expenses paid during the eligible period.

If you don’t have receipts, you can send a copy of the invoice with proof of payment (a canceled check or credit card statement with account and other private information redacted). Note: Expenses that are reimbursed by another state or federal entity are not eligible (for example, those paid for by the Food Export Association of the Midwest or the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program).

Contact us if you need this information in an alternative format. Important : Contact us before you invest if you have questions on eligibility or qualified expenses.

These investments are eligible for reimbursement: Must be a retail product demonstration in a store where your product is sold (this does not include sales at consumer events like farmers’ markets, festivals, fairs, etc., or demos at a store owned by the applicant) May include labor for an employee or owner at a flat rate of $20/hour May include mileage at $0.

50/mile up to a maximum of $200 per demo (mileage is only available if owners or employees execute demos, not contractors) Demo packages or contracts through a third-party agency must submit invoices and are eligible for 50% reimbursement up to the annual limit. This demo log can help you keep track and be used by an owner, employee, or contract employee.

2026 Minnesota Pavilion events You don't need to hold an MDA license to participate. Booth space costs in these Minnesota Pavilion events are reimbursed/matched above and beyond the cost-share limit at the following levels: Natural Products Expo West , March 3-6, 2026, Anaheim, Calif. – $2,500 National Restaurant Association Show , May 16-19, 2026, Chicago – booths are purchased first-come, first-serve directly from the MDA.

Note: 50% off booth space rates for first-time exhibitors at this show! Inquire for larger 10'x20' and 10'x30' booth pricing Summer Fancy Food Show , June 28-30, 2026, New York – $1,500 School Nutrition Association Annual National Conference , July 12-14, 2026, Charlotte, N. C.

– $1,000 per 10' x 10' booth, up to two booths FEAST! Local Foods Marketplace , Nov. 1, 2025, Rochester, Minn.

– $100 FEAST! Local Foods Tradeshow , March 19, 2026, Cannon Falls, Minn. – $100 Minnesota School Nutrition Association Conference , Aug.

2-5, 2026, Saint Cloud, Minn. – $700 More regional tradeshow support to come! Check back for updates and visit our Minnesota Pavilions page for more details.

Walk the Floor Mentorship at a Minnesota Pavilion One-time reimbursement per company; maximum $500 and is reimbursed above and beyond the annual limit Only for approved participants in our Minnesota Pavilion Mentorship Program Includes costs such as airfare, hotel, car rental, education sessions, and badge for entry Business-to-business (B2B) tradeshow costs Booth rental at B2B tradeshow events where there is no Minnesota Pavilion or at B2B tradeshow events where the exhibitor books space outside of a Minnesota Pavilion, if the space is booked after the Minnesota Pavilion is full Badge scanner and lead retrieval services Virtual B2B tradeshow registration Association membership, if required to participate in an event Wholesale and retail activities Subscriptions to CPG syndicated market data or consumer insights from providers such as SPINS, Nielsen, IRI, or Ibotta Tailored category data from larger retailers or distributors Brand strategy consulting for sales or expansion strategy across various channels Consultants must be registered business entities, and you must submit an invoice as well as an overview of services provided.

Logo design, label design, or rebranding contracts with marketing or design professionals (label printing is not eligible) In-store promotion costs, such as off-shelf displays (e.g., end cap, point-of-sale displays, or signage) E-commerce and digital marketing activities Third-party e-commerce marketplace or platform Includes registration and sign-up fees, monthly subscription fees, and fees for premium positioning (shipping fees are not eligible for reimbursement) Photo or video editing software subscriptions Monthly subscriptions must include all monthly invoices, and you must be able to show proof of use in e-commerce or digital marketing upon request.

Consultants must be registered business entities, and you must submit an invoice as well as an overview of services provided. Website design and setup contracts Includes photography or videography, website extensions such as store locators, and other web store utilities Designer or developer must be a registered business entity, and you must submit an invoice as well as an overview of services provided.

Costs that are not eligible for this program include: Expenses that are reimbursed by another state or federal entity Equipment, hardware, and supplies Print advertising and printing Electronic payment equipment General business management software Merchandise and merchandise processing fees Retailer and other re-seller web marketplace platforms (e.g., Walmart. com, Target.

com) Shipping fees and expenses Contact us if you have questions on eligibility. What is a consumer packaged good (CPG)? Consumer packaged goods (CPG) is an industry term for value-added products that customers use up and replace on a frequent basis.

CPG packaging is designed to differentiate the product from its competitors. What is a Minnesota-based company? For this program, a Minnesota-based company is an entity that is organized or authorized to do business under the laws of Minnesota and is actively registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State.

The entity must maintain a physical presence in the state (such as a headquarters, production site, warehouse, or administrative office) and be in good standing at the time of application and throughout the reimbursement period. A re-seller is a retailer that resells goods to the end consumer or a wholesaler that resells goods to retailers at a marked-up price.

This also includes affiliate marketers that add value through combining related products or repackaging products. What are B2B and virtual tradeshows? Traditional business-to-business (B2B) tradeshows are showcases for manufacturers to display their products to wholesale buyers.

Manufacturers and brand owners contract to rent a booth space at an event so they can pitch their products to buyers in-person. Virtual tradeshows are online events that include 1:1 meetings between manufacturers and wholesale buyers that are arranged in advance by an event organization, trade association, or distributor. Events that include general “consumer” attendance or admission do not qualify as tradeshows.

What are badge scanner and lead retrieval services? Badge scanning is a way for exhibitors to electronically collect and compile leads at an event. It is usually accomplished by purchasing and downloading an app from the event organizer.

The app then allows exhibitors to take photos of attendee (buyer) badges with their smart phone or other device and keep all the information in one place. It’s a replacement for sharing business cards, although cards are still used. What is a third-party e-commerce marketplace or platform?

For this cost-share program, a third-party e-commerce marketplace or platform is a web-based tool or marketplace used by Minnesota food and beverage CPG companies to gain exposure and make sales directly to online shoppers (individual consumers) or wholesale food buyers (retailers and foodservice operators).

Third-party e-commerce marketplace and platforms include entities such as Amazon, Amazon FBA or other fulfillment services, Alibaba, Shopify, RangeMe, GrazeCart, Wordpress, Squarespace, and Local Line.

Online sales and transactional platforms offered by copackers, distributors, retailers, and other resellers (and any other entities that buy and resell products from manufacturers) do not meet our definition of a third-party e-commerce marketplace or platform.

The information provided as part of the Make it Minnesota program cost-share application will be used to assess the applicant’s eligibility to receive payment under the MDA Make it Minnesota program and to fulfill applicable financial reporting requirements. Completing this application is voluntary; applicants are not legally required to provide the MDA with the information requested, but only completed applications will be considered.

While much of the information applicants provide is classified by Minnesota law as public, some of the information may be classified by law as private or nonpublic at the MDA. Data classified as private or nonpublic will be accessible only to MDA employees and contractors that have a work assignment that requires access to the data, and to other entities authorized by state or federal law to receive the data.

The MDA may be obligated to provide the data to law enforcement, the Minnesota Department of Administration, Minnesota Management and Budget, the Office of the State Auditor, or the Office of the Legislative Auditor. Finally, private data about you may be released to third parties through your informed consent, or pursuant to a valid court order or federal subpoena.

Internal Revenue Service Code Section 6109 requires applicants to provide their correct taxpayer identification number to payers who must file information returns with the IRS. The MDA will use the information provided on the applicant’s W-9 form in order to report payments received as part of the Make it Minnesota program to the IRS.

The IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of the applicant’s tax return. For more information on how the information provided on a W-9 may be used, refer to the Privacy Act Notice on page 6 of the W-9 form. Minnesota Co-Packer Directory Shared Commercial Kitchen Directory Minnesota Pavilions Program How to Fill Out Your Online Application (PDF) 395.

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