SPARK AND INNOVATION COLLABORATIVE AWARDS
The Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub fosters collaborations that nourish students, connect schools with local farms and businesses, and reflect our region’s families and communities.
Applications for the 2025 Spark and Innovation Collaborative Awards are now closed. We expect Awardees to be announced in summer 2026, and another round of Spark Award applications will open October 30th, 2026.
SPARK AWARDS
Round 2
Spark Awards fund projects that need a short-term infusion of funds for school food system and marketplace improvements, such as capacity-building, planning, and product testing projects.
Award Range: $30,000 – $100,000
Grant Cycle: One year, with optional 4-month extension period
Application opens: October 15, 2025
Final Application Deadline: January 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CST (Now Closed)
Missing Materials Deadline: February 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CST (Now Closed)
Project Timeline: 2026-2027
SPARK AWARDS
Round 3
Spark Awards fund projects that need a short-term infusion of funds for school food system and marketplace improvements, such as capacity-building, planning, and product testing projects.
Award Range: $30,000 – $100,000
Grant Cycle: One year
Application opens: October 30, 2026
Final Application Deadline: January 22, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. CST
Missing Materials Deadline: February 12, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. CST
Project Timeline: 2027-2028
INNOVATION COLLABORATIVE
AWARDS
Innovation Collaborative Awards fund projects that promote systems-level change of the school food system and marketplace, such as scaling up of programs, regional partnerships, or new program or product development and integration.
Award Range: $250,000–$500,000
Grant Cycle: 2- 2.5 years
Application opens: October 15, 2025
Final Application Deadline: January 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CST (Now Closed)
Missing Materials Deadline: February 6, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CST (Now Closed)
Project Timeline: 2026-2028
Photo Courtesy of MSU Center for Regional Food Systems
2027-2028 GRANT TIMELINE
Application Preparation:
Connect with your State Lead and visit our support for applicants page.
Application Opens:
October 30, 2026
Application Deadline:
January 22, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. CST
Missing Materials Deadline:
February 12, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. CST
Award Notification:
Early Summer 2027
Project Start Date:
Early Summer 2027
Grant Cycles
2024-2026 (Applications Closed)
2026-2028
(Applications Closed)
2024-2025
(Applications Closed)
2026-2027
(Applications Closed)
2027-2028
(Opening October 2026)
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