Six North, Northeast Iowa Businesses Get Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has awarded 26 Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants to Iowa farmers, small businesses and non-profits in 22 counties totaling about $463,000. Grants will help leverage a total investment by grant awardees of almost $2 million. The Choose Iowa announcement was made Wednesday as part of Iowa Ag Week during an event at Cortum Farm and Co. outside of Indianola.
Choose Iowa is the state’s signature brand for Iowa grown, Iowa raised and Iowa made products. These cost-share grants, which match up to $25,000 per project, were created to assist Iowa farmers, businesses and non-profits increase or diversify their ag product offerings, expand markets and shorten supply chains.
Naig says, “Consumers are continually looking for more Iowa food, beverages, and ag products to enjoy and these Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants will help Iowa farmers, small businesses, and non-profits build that supply. These Choose Iowa cost-share investments will enhance availability of Iowa products while creating positive economic activity in communities, big and small, across our state.”
North Iowa grant awardees include:
Engelbrecht Farm | Waverly | $25,000.00
Add processing and storage space, including dedicated cold storage, to increase cut flower production. Total project budget: $50,568.17
Luna Valley Farm Kitchen LLC | Decorah | $25,000.00
Expand warehouse and storage capacity and add an on-farm store to offer additional locally grown products. Total project budget: $81,467.00
Oak and Olive Flowers | Decorah | $2,328.00
Expand specialty cut flower production with new outdoor workspace and specialized equipment.
Total project budget: $4,656.00
Purple Ribbon Beef LLC | Britt | $24,324.00
Convert a warehouse to a commercial kitchen and a new on-farm store to increase and diversify product availability. Total project budget: $48,647.00
Sweet Season Farm | Calmar | $15,805.00
Convert an existing machine shed into an on-farm vegetable processing facility with specialized processing equipment and cold storage. Total project budget: $31,611.40
Tailwind Acres LLC | Cresco | $2,418.00
Expand on-farm infrastructure for cold storage and retail sales of florals and mushrooms in addition to products from other farms.
Total project budget: $4,836.00
