Economic development: other; Julian-Stille value-added act; amend to reflect elimination of the Michigan strategic fund. Amends sec. 2 of 2000 PA 322 (MCL 285.302). TIE BAR WITH: SB 0631'25

SB 664 amends Michigan's Julian-Stille Value-Added Act to update the funding mechanism for agricultural grants, removing references to the eliminated Michigan Strategic Fund and clarifying that grants will now come from the agricultural development fund. The bill maintains a program providing competitive grants to support value-added agricultural processing (like transforming raw crops into packaged goods) and related production operations for businesses such as farms, cooperatives, and manufacturers. Key provisions require a public joint evaluation committee to review applications based on criteria like innovation, business viability, and ability to leverage funding, while ensuring transparency in decisions (except for confidential financial data). This directly affects agricultural entities seeking to expand or develop higher-value products within Michigan.