Iowans encouraged to apply for Choose Iowa Marketing and Promotion Grants

(ABC 6 Information) – Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture introduced that the “Select Iowa Advertising and Promotion grant” program is making a comeback. 

Candidates can use the funding to attempt new processing, packaging, and gross sales strategies that add worth to the merchandise that they produce.

The principle focus of this system is addressing provide chains and the way they are often made extra environment friendly for each shoppers and sellers.

“Finally in fact we’re how can we then provide that how can producers and firms and companies get entangled in actually strengthening that provide chain and shortening the provision chain shortening the space between the farm to the desk,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig mentioned.

Skyview farms acquired grant funding final yr and used it to rework the underside ground of their barn right into a retailer entrance. 

It’s allowed them to not solely have the chance to promote on to shoppers — however they’re additionally making the house out there to different sellers to market their merchandise. 

“The factor that we had been missing in our enterprise was a presence on the farm or a spot the place individuals may come store view the animals discuss with us so there’s a narrative entrance after which had been going to be making a meals hub so different producers that wish to market will come to a central location,” mentioned Skyview Farms proprietor Laura Cunningham.

Following the shut of harvest, Skyview farms will likely be delicate launching the “Skyview market” in June, with a full launch deliberate for the autumn. 

Functions could be submitted by means of the Division of Agriculture’s on-line portal. 

The deadline to use is December fifteenth.