Grants available to local food producers

Winneshiek County farmers interested in starting or expandinglocal food production, processing, marketing or distribution in Northeast Iowa are being invited to apply for amini-grant from the Northeast Iowa Food and Farm Coalition.

Thegrant funds may be used for start-up or expansion costs related to growing ormarketing local food.  Funds must be usedon projects that will build the capacity of the farm to produce foodlong-term.  Producers might use the fundsfor building or renovating facilities for growing, packing or storing localfood, or to purchase equipment for production or processing of food.  Projects related to the marketing ortransportation of local foods will also be considered.

InWinneshiek County, $2,000 will be given out inmini-grants. The maximum grant amount is $500. In 2010, $10,700 was awarded in the six Northeast Iowa counties of Howard, Chickasaw, Fayette, Winneshiek, Allamakeeand Clayton. 

Applicationsare due by May 1st. Please e-mail them to wcdi@alpinecom.net; drop them off at 507 W. Water St.,Decorah; or mail them to WCDI, P.O. Box 288, Decorah, Iowa 52101.  Please contact Winneshiek County DevelopmentDirector Randy Uhl at (562) 382-6061 for more information and to receive agrant application. The applications are also available atwww.iowafreshfood.com.