Mill City Farmers' Market Next Stage Grants

Applications for Mill City Farmers' Market 2025 Next Stage Grant cycle are now open through March 1st, 2025, 11:59pm CST. Grants are awarded in early April. For any questions please reach out to us at chrissy@millcityfarmersmarket.org or 612-326-5097
Applicant Requirements:

Farm or business…Must sell at one or more regional farmers markets. Preference will be given to applicants with a higher percentage of sales coming from direct-to-consumer sales.
Must be located in Minnesota or within 200 miles of Minneapolis.
Must adhere to Mill City Farmers Market’s Sustainability Statement or the project must aim to bring them closer to meeting it.
Must have been in operation for more than one year.
Not required to be a current vendor at the Mill City Farmers Market.
Farms structured as 501(c)3 nonprofits are eligible to apply as of 2022.
Did not receive Next Stage Grant funding in 2023 or 2024 (applicants are eligible for funding every 3 years).
Applicant must meet our Financial Need Statement (linked below) OR the project must demonstrate a significant research or broader educational component.
Current members of the Next Stage Grant Program Review Committee and their family are ineligible
Priority will be given to applicants who:

Are farm businesses

Receive more than 50% of sales from direct-to-consumer sales (farmers markets, CSA, roadside stand, etc)

Receive a significant amount of their income from their farm or business
​Are underrepresented in their industry or experience institutional barriers to economic opportunity

Are applying for a project that would not be viable without Next Stage Grant funding

The Next Stage Grant program gives preference to small farms owned by individuals, since they often have fewer resources and grants available to them compared to nonprofit organizations. However, we also recognize the important role nonprofits play in supporting farmers, especially farmers who have been marginalized and/or denied access to capital. When assessing applications from nonprofits, we review budget size of organization, fundraising ability and size of farm among other applicant considerations.