Grow Local Food Fund Application

2025 Grow Local Food Fund Application

Name of the business(Required)

Is this business for-profit? (This grant does not fund nonprofits at this time. If your organization is a nonprofit, please consider applying for our GIVE! Community Support Program.)(Required)

Yes

Was your business awarded a Grow Local Food Fund grant in either 2023 or 2024? (Businesses who’ve received funds in the last two GLFF cycles are not eligible for this year’s grant.)(Required)

Primary contact name(Required)

First Last

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Business address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Business logo

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 512 MB.

Please share 4–6 photos of the business owners/employees/location/space/food/product/things related to your project for Whole Foods Co-op to share in our marketing and communication materials if you are selected to receive a Grow Local Food Fund grant.(Required)

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 512 MB.

Photos submitted may be used by Whole Foods Co-op for promotional purposes if you are a GLFF grant recipient. By uploading, you consent to Whole Foods Co-op photo usage across all digital and print platforms.

What year was your business incorporated?(Required)

Is your business majority owned (51% or more) by individual(s) who identify as woman, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, having a disability and/or as a veteran.(Required)

Yes

Please share a 10-word project summary.(Required)

Will the funds from this project help your business grow food (fruits, vegetables, etc.) or produce food (meat, wild rice, maple syrup, etc.)?(Required)

This project will help my business grow edible, nutritious food for people.

This project will help my business produce edible, nutritious food for people.

This project will help my business grow AND produce edible, nutritious food for people.

Dollar amount requested from Grow Local Food Fund (up to $7,000).(Required)

Longer Form Responses

For all following questions, please do not mention the name of your business in your responses. Applications will be scored blind. If you need to refer to your business, please use a term like “the business.” Please keep each response under approximately 200 words (under 1000 characters).

Describe your project.(Required)

Please share 1–4 photos of your location/space/food/product to help the committee better understand your project. Please do not include any images of people or share images that include your logo or other features that would distinguish your specific business. Applications will be scored blind and any photos with identifying information will not be submitted to the committee for review.(Required)

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 512 MB.

Photos submitted may be used by Whole Foods Co-op for promotional purposes. By uploading, you consent to Whole Foods Co-op photo usage across all digital and print platforms.

Scales Local Food Production (20%)

Is your business in Minnesota or Wisconsin? GLFF is only funding projects in Minnesota or Wisconsin at this time.(Required)

Yes

Is your business in the Lake Superior Bioregion (in a county in Minnesota or Wisconsin that borders Lake Superior)?(Required)

Yes

How will this project increase access to nutritious food for our community? Please be as specific as possible. Consider including numbers or data (ex: we currently produce XX lbs of food a year and with this investment we will be able to produce XXX lbs of food a year).(Required)

Long-Term Investment (20%)

How will this project contribute as a long-term investment in your business? Examples include investing in equipment or techniques that will improve climate resiliency, or acquiring equipment or supplies for ongoing use. Items like general operating expenses, packaging, seeds, etc., are generally not considered long-term investments.(Required)

Project Feasibility (20%)

Please share the relevant experience you and/or your collaborators have related to accomplishing this project successfully.(Required)

Please share your plans for how your business will accomplish this project, including a timeline.(Required)

Contributes to Environmental Stability (20%)

Describe how this project will promote organic practices, local sourcing, and regenerative methods, ensuring sustainable management of air, soil, and water. (Required)

Viability to Ensure Project Success (20%)

In 2024, what was your total annual business revenue (sales, grants, other)?(Required)

In 2024, what were your total annual business expenses (rent, utilities, labor, supplies, etc.)?(Required)

Using the below PDF, please share a detailed breakdown of your budget for this project, including any additional funds secured, either through additional grants, loans, or direct investments from your business, as well as an itemized list of project costs. Ensure your project funding sources equal the total amount of your project costs. Download the editable PDF below and fill it out. Then please upload the completed form below.

Download GLFF Grant Budget Table PDF

Upload completed Budget Table PDF(Required)

Max. file size: 512 MB.