Sep 12, 2019

Michigan Craft Beverage Council taking grant proposals

The Michigan Craft Beverage Council is now accepting 2020 Research Grant proposals with a maximum grant award of $50,000.

Proposals must be received no later than 3 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, the council said in a press release.

The Michigan Craft Beverage Council is a 10-member, governor-appointed board that advises the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. It was created to provide for research, marketing and promotion of Michigan agricultural products used to produce Michigan craft beverages.

“While all research proposals will be accepted, the council has identified research priorities for 2020 that will help direct the projects prioritized for funding,” according to the council’s press release.

The beverage council’s priorities include:

• Climate change impacts
• Crop quality
• Pest and disease management
• Water management
• Market research
• New varieties.

A full list of the MCBC’s research priorities are available online and can be found here.

Evaluation criteria will include the overall impact to the craft beverage industry, match dollars leveraged, near term impacts to the industry and whether the project will impact multiple segments of the craft beverage industry and its supply chain, according to the press release.

Proposals must be received via email at [email protected] no later than 3 p.m. (EST) on Oct. 17, 2019, according to the release.

The application and grant guidelines can be viewed here, and questions can be emailed to [email protected].

A committee will meet to review proposals in December 2019 with funding decisions being finalized by the Council in 2020. Approved projects will commence in April 2020.