The recipients of six Entrepreneur Grants from the Wilkes Economic Development Corporation (EDC) were announced at Friday morning’s EDC Board of Directors meeting.
They are Bright Barrel LLC, CS Farm, Good Morning Baby LLC, Russell Flower Farm, Scoops N More, and Upscale Structures. A total of $14,500 was distributed to his six recipients. The amount each received varied based on multiple factors.
This cycle, 10 companies representing the agriculture, retail, food service and woodworking sectors applied for Entrepreneur Grants. The press release states that the entries were judged based on their potential funding impact on the business and their sustainability.
This grant program is held twice a year with the support of private/public investors and the sponsorship of Wilkes Community College’s Small Business Center.
Each applicant submitted a video pitch in addition to a business plan and financial summary to provide the judges with insight into the proposed use of the funds.
Bright Barrel LLC, owned and operated by Caleb Drown, paid $1,500 for a commercial refrigerator used to showcase its non-alcoholic craft beer line aimed at appealing to outdoor enthusiasts and health-conscious consumers. I received the dollar. Brown also attended the Idea His Expo held at Masthead Coworking. This was an opportunity to test the feasibility of a product or business plan, receive mentorship, and develop potential partnerships and funding after finishing the series and pitch competition. Brown received funding for research and product development from Appalachian State University’s Fermentation Science Program. For more information, please visit Bright-Barrel.com.
CS Farms, located on Cedar Forest Road in Rhonda, owned and operated by Chad Sale and his family, received $3,700 for the construction of a USDA-compliant packing house for meat products. The farm raises Duroc pigs, Katahdin sheep, Angus cattle, Narragansett turkeys, Buff Orpington chickens and mallard ducks, according to its website. CS Farm, which he also received an Entrepreneur Grant in 2018, took a break due to illness, but restarted last year and expanded the farm to include fresh fruit. This year, there are plans to expand by adding fresh fruit, including 5,000 greenhouse strawberry plants, 120 blueberry plants and 30 blackberry canes. For more information, please visit CS Farm on Facebook.
Good Morning Baby LLC, a North Wilkesboro-based online children’s clothing business owned and operated by Meghan Markle and Andy Benesh, received $1,000 for lighting and tripod equipment for marketing photos, including social media. . The Benetses plan to continue growing their online presence and eventually open a store. For more information, please visit GoodMorning-Baby.com.
Russell Flower Farm on Benham Church Road in Elkin, owned by Brittany Russell, received $4,800 in cement and other materials for handicap parking and sidewalks as part of its expansion into agritourism farming. received. Russell plans to offer u-cut experiences, events, and educational classes. For more information, visit RusselFflowerFarm.com.
Scoops and More received $2,000 for a soft serve ice cream machine to use at fast-paced events such as the 2024 All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The business, owned and operated by Brittany Anderson and his family, serves premium hand-dipped ice cream at events and festivals around Wilkes County and will compete in this year’s All-Star Race for the second year in a row. is. For more information, visit his Scoops N More on Facebook.
Upscale Structures, owned by Matthew Sturgill, received $1,500 to pay for a trailer for delivery. Upscale Structures manufactures, sells, and installs custom chicken coops, dog kennels, and break-in stables, historically using rental trailers for delivery. Having your own trail reduces costs and allows for more flexible delivery schedules. His website for business is being built. Please send inquiries to mailto:upscalestructors@gmail.com.
Wilkes EDC President LeeAnne Nixon thanked the judges and said, “We are extremely grateful for their dedication to our program.” The Spring 2024 judges are Thomas Salley, Director of the Wilkes Tourism Development Authority, Taylor Gunn, Director of the Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership, and Director of Business Development at First Community Bank, Cooks. It was Mark Cook, owner of Sports and co-owner of the Liberty Theatre. , l, and his manager Doren Tripp, Community of Masthead Coworking.
Mr. Nixon said he would like to give special thanks to Laurie Brintle Jarvis of the Wilkes Community College Small Business Center, who assisted applicants with their business plans and financial summaries during each grant cycle.
“Thank you SBC for sponsoring the Spring 2024 Entrepreneurship Grant Program.” , building relationships with companies to ensure their success,” Nixon said.
“We value this opportunity to connect and support small businesses and entrepreneurs in Wilkes County,” said Francisco Martinez, Wilkes EDC Marketing Manager. “Support continues to grow.”
In addition to the possibility of receiving grants, the program also “offers an opportunity to engage with resource partners and find further avenues,” Martinez said.
Wilkes EDC Vice President Robin Hamby has led the grant program since 2015. “We would like to thank our kind sponsors for funding this program. To support the demands of new and expanding business, it is essential that the program be offered twice a year.” We are pleased to be able to offer you this opportunity. ”
Hamby said sponsors make this program possible. She said funding commitments are being accepted for the Fall 2024 Entrepreneur Grant Program, with the goal of exceeding the $14,500 raised in the Spring 2024 program.
Sponsorship is available at various levels and includes in-kind donations.
Each level above Bronze provides additional recognition for donors. For more information, call Wilkes EDC at 336-838-1501.
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