Choose Iowa grants help Bettendorf winery, others diversify products

Twenty-six farmers, small businesses and nonprofits in Iowa received grants totaling over $400,000 to help them increase and/or diversify their products.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has awarded 26 Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants in 22 counties totaling $463,000. The grants will help leverage a total investment made by grant awardees of $1,993,190.47. The announcement was made as part of Iowa Ag Week.

Locally, Olathea Creek Winery in Bettendorf will receive $25,000 from the program to increase production capacity and product availability by adding specialized bottling and processing equipment.

Choose Iowa is the state’s brand for Iowa grown, raised and made products. These cost-share grants, which match up to $25,000 per project, help Iowa farmers, businesses and nonprofits increase or diversify their agricultural product offerings, expand markets and shorten supply chains.

This year’s grants support a variety of projects including delivery and cold storage for direct-to-consumer meat sales, fruit production and processing, vegetable processing, packaging equipment, cider and wine canning and bottling, farm store and food hub construction, honey production, culinary herbs, lavender and cut flower production, warehouse capacity, cover crop seed distribution and agritourism opportunities.

“Consumers are continually looking for more Iowa food, beverages, and ag products to enjoy and these Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants will help Iowa farmers, small businesses, and non-profits build that supply,” said Secretary Naig. “We are so pleased to provide these Choose Iowa cost-share investments because they will enhance the availability of Iowa products while creating positive economic activity in communities, big and small, across our state.”

Grant funding, for example, could be used to add new processing, packaging or sales techniques that add value to crops, livestock, and other products. For example, 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. Grant funding could also be used for employee training and continuing education. Meat processing and dairy processing projects were not eligible for Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants as separate dedicated grant funding programs are available for both.

People, businesses and nonprofit organizations that are currently living or operating in Iowa could apply and preference was given to small to medium-sized entities. This year, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship received 63 eligible grant requests totaling $1,130,139.00.

Since the grants were launched in 2022, Choose Iowa Value-Added Grants totaling $1,173,690.00 have been awarded to 67 projects, leveraging a total investment of $4,268,099.19.

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