AGC is thrilled to announce the recipients of our first-ever Technical Assistance and Equipment Microgrant!
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Over the years, AGC has continued to hear from members that one of the barriers to reaching a variety of business goals is access to specialized, right-sized technical assistance and equipment. Assisting more food and farm businesses to reach their business goals is part of AGC’s mission to build a diverse regional grainshed. Our new microgrant program is intended to help address this specific barrier and improve economic vitality across the Midwest grain chain.
All applications were reviewed and scored by a Microgrant Review Committee made up of five members from AGC’s Steering and Coordinating Committees. Each application was read by three reviewers and individual scores were averaged for a final score. The review process was completely anonymous; identifying information was removed from each application and a rubric was used to ensure fair and consistent scoring.
No. of recipients: 12
Amount awarded: $24,555.23
Equipment: grain cleaner, grain storage stacker, specialized baking equipment, floor scale, moisture meter, oven, bird netting, bread slicer, cleaning equipment, milling equipment, still, spiral mixer
Grain Chain Roles: Farmers (50%), Bakers (33.33%), Food Business (8.33%), Distillers (8.33%)
Geography: Minnesota (33.33%), Michigan (25%), Wisconsin (16.67%), Illinois (16.67%), Ohio (8.33%)
Learn more about each by clicking their names.
Barnum Farm (Farmer, MN) - grain cleaner
Branstrator Farm (Farmer, OH, member) - grain storage stacker
Bread & Justice (Baker, WI, member) - baking equipment
Doubting Thomas Farms (Farmer, MN, member) - floor scale and moisture meter
Farmette (Baker, MI, member) - baking equipment
Great Lakes Staple Seeds (Farmer, MI) - bird netting
ORIGIN Breads (Baker, WI, member) - bread slicer
Sandhill Mill (Farmer, MN, member) - cleaning equipment
Tenera Grains (Food Business, MI, member) - milling equipment
Thornton Distilling Company (Distiller, IL, member) - still
Toad Hill Farm (Farmer, MN, member) - cleaning equipment upgrades
Tooth Butter Cottage Bakery (Baker, IL, member) - spiral mixer
Funding for this inaugural microgrant program was made possible through the Soil Health Alliance for Research and Engagement and Clif Family Foundation.