State agriculture officials outline grant and marketing support for Minnesota food brands

The Sherburne County Economic Development Authority heard a presentation from Minnesota Department of Agriculture staff about two programs that support in‑state food brands.

Erica Camplin, who said she works in food and small-to-medium food business development at the state Department of Agriculture, described the Make It Minnesota program and told the board, “We administer over $40,000,000 in grants annually.” She explained the program’s marketing cost-share reimburses 50% of qualifying marketing investments, with eligible businesses able to receive up to $4,000 per company and capped annual funding for the cost-share coming from the AGRI Fund (about $400,000 a year).

Camplin listed eligible expenses—store demo costs, wholesale/retail packaging and labeling, digital advertising and trade-show costs—and said funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Jennifer Alexander, regional marketing specialist, described the Minnesota Grown license, which requires products to be 80% or more grown in Minnesota and currently has about 1,350 license holders.

Board members asked how the programs would work for Sherburne County vendors and cottage food producers; staff said MDA provides technical assistance, licensing support and a commercial-kitchen directory. Camplin and Alexander offered to share one‑pagers and marketing materials with the EDA and follow up with more tailored presentations for local retailers and farmers’ market vendors.

The presentation gave the board concrete program details members said they could distribute to local entrepreneurs seeking retail or wholesale channels.