Several Corridor businesses are recipients of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Choose Iowa value-added grants.
On April 22, IDALS awarded 33 grants – a total of $463,000 – to Iowa farmers and small businesses spanning 28 counties. According to a release, the funds will help recipients expand their product lines, tap new markets and shorten supply chains. Each project was eligible for up to $25,000 in cost-share support. In total, the program is expected to leverage more than $1.3 million in private investment.
State officials announced the 2025 grant recipients during Iowa Horticulture Week at Farmer Sarge’s, a veteran-owned produce farm in Algona. The farm, a Choose Iowa member, was among those selected for funding.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to boost the visibility and viability of food, beverages, and agricultural products grown, raised, or made in Iowa.
“Consumers increasingly want more locally grown food, beverages, and ag products, and that’s great news for Iowa farmers and small businesses,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “These Choose Iowa value-added grants are designed to help small, young, and beginning farmers grow their businesses to meet this rising demand. By investing alongside them, we’re not only helping to expand the availability of Iowa products, but we’re also fueling economic opportunity in communities all across the state.”
IDALS received nearly 100 qualified applications
From honey operations and popcorn packaging to commercial kitchens and Christmas tree farms, this year’s Choose Iowa value-added grants will support a diverse slate of projects aimed at strengthening Iowa’s local food economy.
The grants will fund initiatives including produce processing, farm-to-table dining expansion, on-farm retail development, refrigeration upgrades for direct-to-consumer sales, and more.
Eligible applicants included individuals, businesses, and nonprofits operating in Iowa, with preference given to small and mid-sized enterprises, the release stated. Interest in the program far outpaced available funding: the department received 99 qualified applications requesting more than $1.7 million – over four times the funds available.
“Since the Choose Iowa value-added grant program launched in 2022, the Department has awarded nearly $1.64 million in state funded cost-share to 100 projects, for a total investment of $5.6 million to expand local production and processing,” the release stated.
Grant recipients representing the Corridor include:
- Culinary Gardens from Cedar Rapids received $3,013.59 to build a modern root cellar for storage of fresh produce to better serve customers.
Total project budget: $6,027 - Nupolu’s Emerging Farms, also from Cedar Rapids, received $9,000 to purchase a refrigerated van to better reach and serve customers.
Total project budget: $18,000 - Millstream Brewery of Amana was awarded $25,000 to purchase essential storage, filtering, and canning equipment to facilitate the launch of a new line of hard cider.
Total project budget: $270,000 - Singing Goat Farms from Iowa City was awarded $21,540 to establish a shared-use vegetable pack facility to enhance area vegetable production.
Total project budget: $43,073 - The Martelle Market from Martelle received $10,376 to help construct a farm market and licensed commercial kitchen to better serve customers.
Total project budget: $20,742.53
