$47.2 Million in Grant Funding for Food & Beverage Facilities in Minnesota
What It Covers, Who Qualifies, and How to Take Advantage
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has $47.2 million available to help food and beverage manufacturers and food waste facilities:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Improve operational efficiency
- Minimize waste and environmental impact
The goal is simple: keep Minnesota’s food production industry competitive while lowering environmental impact.
But like most grant programs, success depends on having a clearly defined, well-supported project.
What Funding Is Available?
Technical Assistance Grants — $7.2 Million
Designed to help facilities identify and evaluate opportunities.
- Covers assessments, planning, and feasibility work
- Rolling applications reviewed monthly (21st of each month)
- Available until June 21, 2028 (or until funds are spent)
Implementation Grants — $40 Million
Supports capital projects that reduce emissions, waste, and pollutants.
- Reviewed quarterly (Jan 1, Apr 1, July 1, Oct 1)
- Available until April 1, 2028 (or until funds are spent)
MPCA Industrial Innovation in Food Systems Implementation Program
Where Facilities Typically Get Stuck
Many eligible facilities never apply or don’t get approved because:
- The opportunity isn’t clearly defined
- The impact (efficiency, emissions, waste reduction) isn’t quantified
- Supporting documentation is incomplete
- Projects feel too disruptive to operations
In reality, some of the most fundable improvements are already within your existing infrastructure.
Often Overlooked: Underground Infrastructure
Pipes and wastewater systems directly impact:
- Water usage and loss
- Energy required for pumping and treatment
- Risk of environmental contamination
- Overall system efficiency
But because these systems are out of sight, they’re often left out of funding conversations.
In many cases, targeted rehabilitation can deliver measurable efficiency gains without major operational disruption, making them strong candidates for funding.
Where Ellingson Can Support
If you’re exploring this program, Ellingson can support specific parts of that process, particularly where underground infrastructure plays a role.
- Assessments & Inspections to identify system inefficiencies
- Certified Condition Reports to support planning and documentation
- Trenchless rehabilitation solutions like CIPP and CCCP to improve performance with minimal disruption
Our role is straightforward: help facilities better understand what’s happening underground, and what improvements may qualify for funding.
Why This Matters Now
Funding is available, but not guaranteed.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling and quarterly basis, and funds are distributed as qualified projects come forward.
At the same time, aging infrastructure continues to:
- Increase operational costs
- Create compliance and environmental risks
- Raise the likelihood of unplanned downtime
Facilities that move early, with a clear, well-documented plan, are best positioned to take advantage of available funding.
Start With Understanding Your System
For many facilities, the first step isn’t applying for funding; it’s understanding where the opportunity is.
If you’re considering the MPCA program, starting with a system assessment can help you:
- Identify potential qualifying projects
- Build a stronger application
- Prioritize improvements based on impact