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Rural Field to Market Grant is sponsored by Entrepreneur Fund. Supports small- to mid-size farm and food businesses in rural Minnesota to increase revenue, create market opportunities, and expand local sourcing. Funds can be used for equipment, production expansion, staff time, and business planning.
Official opportunity description and requirements excerpt:
Rural Field to Market Grant About Us Our Team Careers Lending + Advising Programs Rural Field to Market Grant Our Impact Partner With Us Events Distinction Awards Privacy Preference Center When you visit websites, they may store or retrieve data in your browser. This storage is often necessary for the basic functionality of the website. The storage may be used for marketing, analytics, and personalization of the site, such as storing your preferences. Privacy is important to us, so you have the option of disabling certain types of storage that may not be necessary for the basic functioning of the website. Blocking categories may impact your experience on the website. Manage Consent Preferences by Category These items are required to enable basic website functionality. These items are used to deliver advertising that is more relevant to you and your interests. They may also be used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement and measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. Advertising networks usually place them with the website operator’s permission. These items allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language, or the region you are in) and provide enhanced, more personal features. For example, a website may provide you with local weather reports or traffic news by storing data about your current location. These items help the website operator understand how its website performs, how visitors interact with the site, and whether there may be technical issues. This storage type usually doesn’t collect information that identifies a visitor. Confirm my preferences and close Customize Reject all Accept All Rural Field to Market Grant Direct support to farm and food businesses in rural Minnesota Thanks to generous support from the Wells Fargo Foundation, the Entrepreneur Fund (EFund) is excited to launch a one-time funding of the Rural Field to Market grant that will provide direct support to small- to mid-size farm and food businesses located within our Minnesota service region. Applications open Monday, January 12, 2026. Increase food and farm business revenue and overall business viability. Create new markets, increase market awareness of current products and/or remove barriers to access. Increase the number of local producers that distributors, retailers, and food service buyers' source from, either directly or through intermediaries. Below are the essential dates to help you prepare and stay on track throughout the grant process. Note, this is not a comprehensive list of dates associated with the grant. Applicants can view the full detailed timeline, from application to award, within the
Application snapshot: target deadline February 16, 2026; published funding information Up to $20,000; eligibility guidance For-profit farm and food businesses in specified Minnesota counties including Duluth area
Use the official notice and source links for final requirements, attachment checklists, allowable costs, and submission instructions before applying.
Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Rural Field to Market Grant About Us Our Team Careers Lending + Advising Programs Rural Field to Market Grant Our Impact Partner With Us Events Distinction Awards Privacy Preference Center When you visit websites, they may store or retrieve data in your browser. This storage is often necessary for the basic functionality of the website.
The storage may be used for marketing, analytics, and personalization of the site, such as storing your preferences. Privacy is important to us, so you have the option of disabling certain types of storage that may not be necessary for the basic functioning of the website. Blocking categories may impact your experience on the website.
Manage Consent Preferences by Category These items are required to enable basic website functionality. These items are used to deliver advertising that is more relevant to you and your interests. They may also be used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement and measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.
Advertising networks usually place them with the website operator’s permission. These items allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language, or the region you are in) and provide enhanced, more personal features. For example, a website may provide you with local weather reports or traffic news by storing data about your current location.
These items help the website operator understand how its website performs, how visitors interact with the site, and whether there may be technical issues. This storage type usually doesn’t collect information that identifies a visitor.
Confirm my preferences and close Customize Reject all Accept All Rural Field to Market Grant Direct support to farm and food businesses in rural Minnesota Thanks to generous support from the Wells Fargo Foundation, the Entrepreneur Fund (EFund) is excited to launch a one-time funding of the Rural Field to Market grant that will provide direct support to small- to mid-size farm and food businesses located within our Minnesota service region.
Applications open Monday, January 12, 2026. Increase food and farm business revenue and overall business viability. Create new markets, increase market awareness of current products and/or remove barriers to access.
Increase the number of local producers that distributors, retailers, and food service buyers' source from, either directly or through intermediaries. Below are the essential dates to help you prepare and stay on track throughout the grant process. Note, this is not a comprehensive list of dates associated with the grant.
Applicants can view the full detailed timeline, from application to award, within the resources section. Eligible businesses can now apply for the Rural Field to Market grant. Applicants are encouraged to review the grant application questions and scoring rubric in advance to ensure thorough preparation, gather all required materials, and address any questions before the submission deadline.
Please note: once you begin the application, it cannot be saved for later edits. Make sure you have enough time to complete and submit the application in one session. Monday, February 16, 2026 Late or incomplete applications cannot be accepted, so please plan accordingly to ensure your materials are submitted on time.
Questions regarding the application should be emailed to info@efund. org no later than Monday, February 9. Please allow up to 3 business days for a response.
Shoreview Natives, Two Harbors, MN Resources You Need Before You Apply Explore eligibility, funding details, and next steps to grow your farm or food business with the Rural Field to Market Grant. Eligibility and Use of Funds For-profit, small- or mid-sized food and farm business.
This may include: other businesses within the food supply chain The program supports all types of products and market channels such as specialty crops, livestock, poultry, dairy, grains, fish, and agritourism activities. Non-food revenue streams from by-products or co-products such as leather, ornamental, etc. are also allowable.
Allowable expenses include pre-and-post harvest related business activities. This includes: equipment or supplies associated with expanding production processing and packing equipment Land and new building construction is NOT an allowable expense.
Businesses must be in operation for at least 3 years and located within the Entrepreneur Fund’s 16-county Minnesota region , which includes these counties and Native nations that share geography: Aitkin, Benton, Carlton, Cass, Cook, Crow Wing, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, St.
Louis, Stearns, Todd, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. The Entrepreneur Fund's Minnesota service region. Review Application Questions Funding Availability and Scoring Criteria EFund will award grants up to $20,000 to selected applicants through a competitive process.
We anticipate up to 25 awards and a total of $450,000 in grants. Scoring criteria includes: Increase Revenue: Demonstrate a pathway to increase business revenue and overall business viability. Up to 10 points New Markets: Create or enhance markets, market awareness or access to value-add products.
Up to 10 points Project Need: Clear demonstration of how this grant will improve your overall business. Up to 10 points. Clear and concise budget: Demonstrate that all funding needed for project is secured.
Up to 5 points Federal Funding disruption: Current recipient of federal funding that supports similar efforts that are frozen. Up to 5 bonus points Informational webinars to be held January 6 at 11am and January 8 at 3 pm. A recorded version of the webinar can be viewed here.
The grant application opens on Monday, January 12. Applications are due Monday, February 16 by 5 pm CST. Late applications will not be accepted.
Questions regarding the application should be emailed to info@efund. org no later than Monday, February 9. Please allow up to 3 business days for a response.
Recipients will be notified via email by April 1. Selected grantees will complete a background check and grant agreement prior to funding being released. Funding must be expended by August 30, 2026.
Recipients will be required to provide a final project report that includes quantitative and qualitative information about their project. Recipients may be asked to participate in promotional activities such as a photo, testimonial, interview, or video shoot. Our commitment to your business goes beyond this grant.
We’re here to support your growth and success. For over 35 years, the Entrepreneur Fund has supported small business owners through flexible financing, expert advising, and business-building programs. Financing: Small business loans for renovations, equipment, inventory, and working capital.
We collaborate with financial partners on gap financing, commercial real estate loans, and relief funding. Industry-specific solutions are available for sectors like food production and local grocers . Advising: Expert guidance on financial projections, cash flow, pricing strategies, marketing, growth planning, and more.
Resources: Access to tools, technology, and business-building programs that strengthen operations and position your business for long-term success. We are committed to supporting businesses like yours that feed our communities. For more information on our services, resources, or next steps with the Rural Field to Market Grant, visit efund.
org or contact us at info@efund. org or 218-623-5747. Grant Webinar Recording: EFund hosted two webinars in early breaking down everything you need to know about this grant, including eligibility requirements, application steps and how it aims to support the local food system and economic growth.
You can watch a recording of one of those webinars below. Answers to the Q&A session can be found in Section 5: Frequently Asked Questions. Frequently Asked Questions Can I save my progress in the application?
You will need to complete your application in one session. You cannot save it and return to it later. Please make sure you have all the required documentation ready before you begin.
You can review the questions and materials needed by downloading [this PDF] . What is a small- to mid-size farm and food businesses? A small to mid-sized farm or food business is generally defined as having annual gross cash farm income under $350,000 for small farms and $350,000–$999,999 for mid-sized farms (USDA).
Are farms that file taxes using a Schedule F eligible to participate? Or is an LLC required? Yes, farms using Schedule F or Schedule C are eligible.
An LLC is not required, as long as other criteria are met. Are cooperative businesses eligible for this grant? Yes.
Cooperative businesses are eligible; however, they must include their most recent 1120-C tax return with the application. How should part-time employees be reported? Calculate total hours for all part-time employees and convert to full-time equivalents (FTE).
Report the average wage for those employees. Does a restaurant or bakery qualify for this grant? It depends.
This program is designed to support food producers and strengthen the local supply chain. If your business sells products sourced directly from farms or produces its own ingredients, you may be eligible. Please contact us to review your specific situation.
Can a nonprofit apply for this opportunity? This grant is limited to for-profit businesses located within our Minnesota service region. I’m purchasing a large piece of equipment, and the grant will only cover part of the cost.
What proof is required to show I can fund the rest? Provide a bank statement showing you have sufficient funds to complete the project. This confirms you can cover the remaining cost beyond the grant amount.
Can this grant be paired with a loan from the Entrepreneur Fund? Yes, this grant can be paired with a small business loan, or potentially a Healthy Food Fund loan , from the Entrepreneur Fund. Please contact us and we will be happy to talk through this option with you.
My farm is in Minnesota, but I live elsewhere. Am I eligible for this grant? Yes, as long as the farm is located within EFund's Minnesota service region and the business is registered in Minnesota.
Are high tunnels or greenhouses eligible? Or is this considered new construction? For this grant, with the goal to expand markets, revenue, and access to local food - this sounds like it would typically fall under equipment, not construction.
If the structure isn’t on a permanent slab, it’s usually considered equipment rather than construction. Are hemp products eligible for this grant? The program supports a wide range of products and market channels, including specialty crops (such as hemp), livestock, poultry, dairy, grains, fish, and agritourism.
Non-food revenue from by-products or co-products—like leather or ornamental goods—is also eligible. Cannabis, however, is not an allowable product. Is this a matching grant?
Will funds be paid after the project is complete? No, this is not a matching grant—no additional funds are required. We are hoping to award and issue grant funds in late spring or early summer.
Recipients will need to submit a progress report in early fall, as the program aims for a quick turnaround. Refer to section 3. Timeline and Selection above for more details.
What is the total funding amount available for the grant program, and how many grants are expected to be funded? The program has $450,000 in total funding. Individual grants are up to $20,000, with an estimated 25–30 grants expected to be awarded.
Gather your details first—applications must be completed in one sitting. Apply by February 16, 2026, and take the next step toward growing your business while strengthening our local food supply chain. Who We Are What We Do Our Impact Partner with Us Women's Business Alliances Blog Events Contact Us Duluth, MN 55802 218-623-5747 info@efund.
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Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: For-profit farm and food businesses in specified Minnesota counties including Duluth area Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Up to $20,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is February 16, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
