If you are looking to enhance your farmers market or know of someone looking to start a food truck business, be sure to touch base with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation as they have created two new programs to assist with these very activities.

The Mobile Cuisine Startup Program is equipped with $100,000 to assist new or existing food truck businesses.  They will provide a one-time grant of up to $10,000. There must be matching funds of at least 25 percent as well as a viable business plan and registered to do business in Michigan.

The Farmers Market Grant Program is aimed at assisting existing farmers markets (operating for at least four years) making the market more accessible to residents with a one-time grant of $10,000 to $50,000.  There must be matching funds of at least 50 percent.

Applications for both the Mobile Cuisine Program and the Farmers Market Grant Program are due by July 1 with award winners being announced at the end of July.

For more information on these two programs, please visit michiganadvantage.org.

Nikki Brown is a legislative associate for the League handling economic development and land use issues. She can be reached at nbrown@mml.org or 517-908-0305.