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SKOWHEGAN, MAINE (December 15, 2022) ̶ 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.
The MGA has awarded sixteen grain-based businesses a total of $15,350. It is the largest round of the awards given through the Technical Assistance Grant Program to date.
“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, 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. "Without MGA's assistance of initial funding to purchase a key piece of equipment, I would not have been able to scale my business so quickly, " shared Heather.
Barak Olins of Zu Bakery, a previous awardee, shared that though the MGA grant made up approximately I/5th of the total cost needed for a dough divider and its installation, it was the impetus that he needed to invest in the equipment. "I think small bakeries often spend years debating whether to spend money, to invest in equipment or other improvements. To have that decision accelerated by receiving and committing to the money from MGA was indispensable."
Kristina Kalolo, previously the markets manager of Liberation Farms, stated that a grant in support of post-harvest corn handling helped to open a door to the local grain economy. She continued, "Our organization is run by and for the Somali Bantu refugee community in Lewiston. This grant has allowed our community to produce storable corn grain for both consumption and sale as a culturally appropriate food source and culturally familiar income stream."
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