Some grants using federal funds require food and farm business owners to access the U.S. government System for Award Management website, SAM.gov. In this webinar held live on Thursday, June 20, 2024, 12:30 PM EST, 11:30 AM CST, Dan Cornelius of Yowela Farms and the Great Lakes Indigenous Law Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Aje Elliott of Workin’ Roots Farm in Detroit — two producers from the region who have been through the online process to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) — will share their tips and experiences. 

Jamie Rahrig and Julie Jesmer, both part of the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) team supporting the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center, will also share about assistance and funding opportunities coming later in 2024. This includes the first phase of the Business Builder grant program for food and/or farm businesses in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin in late 2024. Over $10 million dollars will be distributed across the region to assistance providers and through the grant program over the next four years. 

• Dan Cornelius, owner of Yowela Farms and a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, grows heritage Indigenous crops, raises animals, makes maple syrup, and harvests wild rice. His overall approach seeks to balance modern equipment with inspiration from traditional practices with no-and-minimal tillage for crop production and animals to help cycle nutrients. Dan is also the Outreach Program Manager for the University of Wisconsin Law School’s Great Lakes Indigenous Law Center and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, as well as serving as a judge on the Oneida Appellate Court.
• Aje Elliott, Candius affectionately called Aje, is originally from Portland, OR. She now resides in Detroit, MI where she owns and operates Workin’ Roots Farm. Aje is a beginning farmer, food justice advocate, holistic health practitioner, certified herbalist, priestess, and mother of three.

• Jamie Rahrig coordinates assistance for food and farm businesses through the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center at Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems and is part of the MSU Product Center team. In her role, Jamie develops and manages programs in partnership with organizations across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. She helps bring business coaching to the businesses from farm to fork with a goal of providing equitable access to healthy and affordable food.
• Julie Jesmer is the new Business Builder Grant Manager for the Great Lakes Midwest Regional Food Business Center at CRFS. In this role she will be developing a process for distributing and identifying potential grantees for the Business Builder Awards.  This includes setting up and managing the application as well as the review and evaluation processes in cooperation with regional partners..