Holdfast Farmstead awarded state grant
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Value-added grant helps small Iowa businesses expand and diversify
Holdfast Farmstead in Mount Ayr was recently awarded a $9,541.50 matching grant to construct a commercially licensed kitchen and expand the availability of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) by growing their on-farm retail location.
The local farm was one of 33 Choose Iowa value-added grants recipients selected by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
Holdfast Farmstead
is part of a larger network of 51 member farm stores across the state of Iowa highlighted on the Choose Iowa website. Choose Iowa is the state’s signature branding and marketing program for Iowa grown, raised and made food, beverages, and Ag products. Initiated by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, the Choose Iowa program is administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Marketing of the Choose Iowa brand program, now with 254 statewide members, continues to build momentum and visibility for local food choices.
“Consumers increasingly want more locally grown food, beverages, and Ag products, and that’s great news for Iowa farmers and small businesses,” said Secretary Naig. “These Choose Iowa value-added grants are designed to help small, young, and beginning farmers grow their businesses to meet this rising demand. By investing alongside them, we’re not only helping to expand the availability of Iowa products, but we’re also fueling economic opportunity in communities all across the state.”
Grant funds will assist Iowa farmers, businesses and non-profits increase or diversify their agricultural product offerings, expand markets and shorten supply chains.
For example, grant funding could be used to add new processing, packaging or sales techniques that add value to crops, livestock, and other products.
Additionally, a farmer may invest in an on-farm store or cold storage to sell meat, eggs or produce direct to consumers, or a produce grower may upgrade their commercial kitchen to process larger quantities of seasonal produce.
This year’s grants will support a wide variety of projects including produce processing and production, expanding farm-to-table dining, commercial kitchen construction, on-farm retail, refrigeration and freezer capacity for more direct-to-consumer sales, honey production and value-added processing, Christmas tree and popcorn sales, and more.
Foods must meet or exceed minimum criteria to proudly feature the Choose Iowa logo on their package or label. Producers must also be members of the Choose Iowa program to use the logo on their packaging.
Individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations that are currently living or operating in Iowa were eligible to apply for the Choose Iowa value-added grants, and preference was given to small to medium-sized entities. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship received 99 eligible grant requests totaling $1,741,704.41 this year, more than four times the available funding, underscoring the interest and demand for support of local foods programs.
Since the Choose Iowa value-added grant program launched in 2022, the Department has awarded nearly $1.64 million in state funded cost-share to 100 projects, for a total investment of $5.6 million to expand the availability of Iowa grown, Iowa raised, and Iowa made food, beverages, and Ag products.
The Choose Iowa value-added grant accompanies similar Choose Iowa grants to support dairy innovation projects and expand meat processing. Questions about Choose Iowa and its member benefits, grants and programs can be emailed to ChooseIowaGrant@IowaAgriculture.gov.
Find members or nearby farms at ChooseIowa.com.
