(j) "Public notification" means 1 or more press releases sent to appropriate
Michigan news media outlets and a public posting on the department's web site.
(k) "Project" means a venture or an activity, which is funded or proposed to be funded
from the agriculture development fund.
(l) "Risk management" means the level at which the applicant minimizes exposure to
financial risk.
(2) Any financial terms or definitions shall be consistent with generally accepted
accounting principles, unless otherwise defined in these rules.
(3) The terms defined in the act have the same meanings when used in these rules.
History: 2002 AACS; 2006 AACS.
R 285.352 Application, submittal, election criteria, scoring, and decision process.
Rule 2.(1) The department may conduct a grant program using monies from the
agricultural development fund pursuant to the purposes and provisions of the act and
may utilize up to 5% of the fund for administrative support of grant processing and
compliance. The program shall be a competitive grant program and applicants shall
make an application for monies from the fund pursuant to the act and these rules.
(2) An application for a grant from the agricultural development fund shall be made on a
form or format prescribed by the department for the purpose or purposes described in
the act.
(3) Not less than 60 days before the application deadline, as determined by the director,
the department shall make a public notification of the grant program, including
information on the application form and application instructions that include the grant
evaluation criteria. The director may indicate certain priority program initiatives or
classes of agricultural commodities and products in the application instructions
based upon programmatic or funding changes for each fiscal year.
(4) An application for a grant shall be directed into 1 of the following 5 program
categories:
(a) Detailed business plan development that incorporates a specific marketing
strategy and specifically outlines the working capital
and financial needs,
management structure, construction, production, marketing, and distribution needs.
(b) Market research and/or market development project for a product(s) and/or
service(s) prepared by an industry consultant.
(c) Innovative technology or technical assistance, including feasibility studies, that
will enhance and support the commercialization of value-added products.
(d) Upgrading, enhancements, and acquisitions to buildings, equipment, utility
modifications and improvements, transportation installations, telecommunications
infrastructure, or other infrastructure improvements.
(e) Facility purchase and/or construction, including property and/or land acquisition
and assembly, demolition, and site development.
The department may apportion available grant funds in any manner for the 5 program
categories in the application instructions.
(5) The department may update the application instructions each fiscal year. The
department may also issue amended or subsequent application instructions after the
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