The Colorado Department of Agriculture selected nine projects to receive funding through the “Enrich Colorado Ag Grant Program.” Grant funds will help Colorado companies conduct research and develop new uses and markets for food and agricultural products that are grown, raised or processed in Colorado.
“The Department takes great pride in the ability to support our local food and agricultural businesses,” said Tom Lipetzky, Markets Division Director. “Although few grant programs offer support to benefit individual companies, our Division works hard to provide as much assistance as possible.”
Projects funded include:
Feasibility Studies and Technical Assistance
- Brink Inc., Erie, Colo., $4,900 to study the economic viability of utilizing pre-consumer food waste for use as livestock feed and/or composting operations.
- Kettelson Family Farms, Wray, Colo., $12,610 to receive technical assistance with equipment to develop a means of harvesting and producing two new ornamental products.
- Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project, Cortez, Colo., $7,500 for researching the market potential and data collection of heritage apples (and unique varietals) grown in southwestern Colorado.
Marketing and Sales
- Community Agriculture Alliance, Steamboat Springs, Colo., $11,000 to market and promote local food/products available in the Yampa Valley, by utilizing the established Community Ag Marketplace website in addition to the shared farmers’ market booth.
- Four Corners Chapter, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Cortez Evening Market, Cortez, Colo., $10,000 for marketing and promotion of the evening market to increase awareness and participation of vendors and consumers.
- Garden Sweet, Fort Collins, Colo., $7,330 for marketing support with the purpose of increasing sales, enhancing direct-to-consumer access to Garden Sweet farm products, and promoting new value-added products for the 2015 season.
- The Infinite Monkey Theorem, Inc., Denver, Colo., $10,000 will contribute to the support of introducing a dry hopped pear cider to the adult beverage industry and bring awareness to the benefits of Colorado canned beverage products.
- Two Brothers Organics Inc., Hotchkiss, Colo., $15,000 to assist in the development and promotion of an all-natural line of products in order to meet the current demand and provide the company the ability to source more Colorado ingredients.
- Southwest Farm Fresh Cooperative, Cortez, Colo., $9,895 to advance the sales of local farm products from member-owners by using an established wholesale distribution method and soon to include retail online shopping access and distribution component.
“We received 30 well written applications requesting nearly $400,000 for an array of innovative projects, ideas and concepts,” said Shaina Knight, Markets Division Business Development Specialist. “The Department is excited to make an investment in these companies to help them reach their goals.”
Source:colorado.gov