Healthy Food Fund: Nourishing Loans for Food Producers and Retailers

Do you find yourself craving more? More space? More inventory? More capital? Satisfy those cravings with our Healthy Food Fund (HFF). Catered to local grocers, convenience stores, and food producers in Wisconsin and Minnesota, HFF offers low-rate loans with competitive terms paired with no-cost business advising.

As a partner to local entrepreneurs, we understand the challenges you face—from limited access to capital to outdated technology. Our team is here to provide financial tools and advice, empowering you to overcome these obstacles and concentrate on delivering healthy food to your community.

Whether you're a farm stand owner looking for a refrigerated truck, a community grocery store needing to expand its inventory, or a food producer seeking financing for new machinery, HFF can be the key to unlocking your potential and growing your business.

Here's how the Healthy Food Fund can help:

• ‍Financial Boost: HFF offers low-interest loans and competitive terms to help local food businesses access the capital they need. Funds can be used for replacing dated equipment, investing in technology for inventory and payment efficiencies, expanding to a larger space, purchasing inventory, hiring staff, updating the interior of a business, purchasing a new or exisiting store, and more.‍
• Strategic Business Advice: HFF goes beyond just financing. All our clients receive complimentary business advising services. Our advisors can help with financial management, marketing strategies, and overall business growth that sets you up for long-term success.‍
• Building a Healthier Community: By supporting local food businesses, the HFF program strengthens the local food system, ensuring everyone has access to fresh, nutritious options. This creates a ripple effect, benefiting both the business and the community they serve.

For Lauren Schuppe, owner of Darlings Grocery on Wisconsin’s Madeline Island, HFF was instrumental in her being able to buy an existing food retail business and commercial building on the island.

“As a woman-owned business seeking financing can be challenging and intimidating,” said Lauren. “There was only support where EFund was concerned. Navigating the different opportunities was never stressful and their reassurance was much needed in some of the negotiations with the seller.”

As the only full-scale grocery on the island, Darlings Grocery strengthens the Madeline Island food system by providing affordable basics, offering deli pick-up and supporting the vibrant farming community on the island to create a future hub that promotes self-sufficiency.

“Strengthening local food systems in rural Minnesota and Wisconsin is an important part of our work,” said Mike Lattery, Entrepreneur Fund Director of Business Finance. “Lauren and her businesses, the restaurant, her farm, and now the grocery store, contribute to more sustainable practices and the overall well-being of the Madeline Island community.”

Is the Healthy Food Fund right for you?

Ready to take your local food business to the next level?  Get started to connect with our team today and discover if your business qualifies for the Healthy Food Fund. Together, let's cultivate a healthier future for our communities, one farm, one grocer, and one producer at a time.