SKOWHEGAN, MAINE (April 25, 2024) ̶ The Maine Grain Alliance (MGA) is thrilled to announce the recipients of latest round of Technical Assistance Grants to grain-based organizations across Maine. This year farms, bakeries, mills, and food manufacturers were among those awarded grant funds.

This year, MGA has awarded sixteen grain-based businesses a total of $12,310.

“The MGA is incredibly proud to support hardworking entrepreneurs who create new opportunities inside our regional grain economy,” notes Tristan Noyes, executive director of the Maine Grain Alliance. “We hear from awardees that our grants give them the courage to explore areas for new growth and opportunity.“

The MGA awards mini-grants of $250 – $1,000 to fund need-based technical assistance and equipment across a variety of grain-based businesses and organizations in Maine. The Maine Grain Alliance is especially interested in assisting participants, presenters, panelists, work-study students, and scholarship recipients of the Kneading Conference which has been held annually since 2007.

Heather Kerner is the founder of the The Good Crust in Canaan, Maine, a pizza dough manufacturer who uses 100% Maine grains in her dough. She shares that the support of the Maine Grain Alliance Technical Assistance Program has been critical to the launch of her business. "The work of MGA is literally and figuratively helping to scatter the seeds of a strong and robust regional grain economy by supporting farmers, nurturing businesses that are utilizing local grains, providing baking education, and connecting us all in a vision forward for plentiful harvests in the future," shared Heather.

"The Technical Assistance Grant that we received from the Maine Grain Alliance has been a vital part of our workplace efficiency and production abilities within our Cake Department. Having the ability to continue growing our business at the hands of new machinery, thanks to this grant, helps in ways that are crucial to the continuous upward movement that is required to further serve the community," shared Matt Dubois of the Bankery in Skowhegan, a previous awardee.

Sawing wood for corn drying tables at Liberation Farms, a recipient of the MGA program in a prior year

Constructing corn drying tables at Liberation Farms

The latest round of grants provided funding baking equipment, post-harvest grain handling equipment, packaging needs, educational opportunities, website development, branding needs, marketing and media placement, and refrigeration infrastructure. 

The Maine Grain Alliance Technical Assistance Grant Program is made possible by the generous support of Skowhegan Savings Bank, Franklin Savings Bank, and Allagash Brewing Company.

The following businesses and organizations received grant funding during our latest round:

• Born Yesterday Bakery
• Counterpoint Bread, LLC
• Hanbakes
• Hank Sourdough Bakery
• Just Crackers
• Knead & Nosh
• Maine Grains
• Siblings Bakery
• Spark Bagel
• The Good Crust
• The Millers Table
• The Uproot Pie Co
• Tortillería Pachanga
• Union Street Bagels
• Weeds and Seeds Farm
• Winterberry Farm

The Maine Grain Alliance (MGA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2010 with the mission to inspire and empower people who are building local grain economies. The organization creates connections and shares grain traditions and innovations from earth to table. MGA promotes beneficial uses for of grain for good health, food independence, and purposeful jobs within viable communities. The Alliance connects people and supports the economic, environmental, and nutritional importance for establishing regional grain economies. For more information, please visit mainegrainalliance.org/.

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