The Food Safety Cost-Share Pilot Program, administered by the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI), will provide a 50% cost-share reimbursement (up to $2,500) for food businesses to implement food safety measures. Please note, funding is limited and will be awarded for eligible activities on a first-come, first-served basis.
These measures should cover a critical food safety gap, defined as something required to meet FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) food safety regulations, prevent contamination, control a documented food-safety risk, or achieve a food safety milestone (such as a manufacturing certification). If you have questions on eligibility or qualified expenses, please contact AURI. *Applicants must receive pre-approval from AURI prior to incurring expenses for this program. To get started, please fill out the application below.
Eligibility
- Be a Minnesota-based company, registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State
- AND offer a branded, packaged food or beverage product. Businesses selling pet food or food for immediate consumption (i.e., restaurants, food trucks, and mobile food stands) and grocers are not eligible
- AND be a small-to-medium enterprise, which we define as an entity with fewer than 500 employees
- AND be a current holder of an MDA Food License (either your own or that of a Minnesota co-manufacturer that you use) OR provide proof that licensing is in process
Eligibility rule exceptions:
- If you grow and sell products of the farm (see Food Licensing Exclusions and Exemptions), you may be exempt from eligibility rule #4 above
- Minnesota Tribal entities may be exempt from eligibility rules #1 and #4 above
Each company is limited to ONE reimbursement request.
Eligible Activities
Confirm with AURI that the activity is eligible for cost-share reimbursement before purchase by completing the application below.
Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited to:
- Hiring a food safety professional to write a FSMA-compliant food safety plan (contact AURI for a recommendation, if necessary)
- Costs associated with food safety certification and/or audits (Global Food Safety Initiative programs such as SQF)
- Training (such as Better Process Control School or Preventive Controls for Human Food – PCQI)
- Purchase of equipment for monitoring food safety critical control points (such as a digital thermometer, water activity meter, or pH meter)
- Reach out to AURI if you have any questions about eligible purchases
Ineligible Activities
- Purchase of consumable sanitation supplies/chemicals
- Equipment purchases or equipment upgrades that DO NOT cover a critical food safety need outlined in your food safety plan
- Licensing costs
- Costs associated with an active product recall
- Staff payroll expenses
- General business software expenses
- Ongoing business continuity expenses
If you have any questions regarding this program, please reach out to Ashley Harguth (aharguth@auri.org).
Application: https://auri.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8HvgmUwUaovuis6
Application Deadlines
AURI will process applications as they come in (first-come, first-served, with eligible expenses) until the application deadline or the funds are gone, whichever is first. Note: the final application deadline is April 15, 2026.
By applying to this program, you agree to:
- Promptly turn in reimbursements. All reimbursement requests must be submitted prior to April 30, 2026
- Promptly return impact surveys distributed upon reimbursement delivery
What You Should Expect
After applying, AURI staff will notify applicants if they are pre-approved. Applicants should not incur reimbursable expenses until they have been notified.
If pre-approved, applicants will work with AURI on the reimbursement process, including:
- Complete and sign Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (IRS W9)
- Provide proof of payment for eligible expenses (receipts or invoices with a zero balance)
If you don’t have receipts, you can send a copy of the invoice with proof of payment (a canceled check or credit card statement with account and other private information redacted).
Finally, awardees are expected to provide program feedback via electronic survey upon receipt of reimbursement. As a pilot, this feedback is critical to ensure the program is repeated.
Funding for this program is limited and will be awarded for eligible activities on a first-come, first-served basis.
Apply now at: https://auri.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8HvgmUwUaovuis6