Iowans encouraged to apply for Choose Iowa Marketing and Promotion Grants

(ABC 6 News) – Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture announced that the “Choose Iowa Marketing and Promotion grant” program is making a comeback. 

Applicants can use the funding to try new processing, packaging, and sales techniques that add value to the products that they produce.

The main focus of the program is addressing supply chains and how they can be made more efficient for both consumers and sellers.

“Ultimately of course we are looking at how do we then supply that how can producers and companies and businesses get involved in really strengthening that supply chain and shortening the supply chain shortening the distance between the farm to the table,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said.

Skyview farms received grant funding last year and used it to transform the bottom floor of their barn into a store front. 

It’s allowed them to not only have the opportunity to sell directly to consumers — but they’re also making the space available to other sellers to market their products. 

“The thing that we were lacking in our business was a presence on the farm or a place where people could come shop view the animals talk with us so there’s a story front and then were going to be creating a food hub so other producers that want to market will come to a central location,” said Skyview Farms owner Laura Cunningham.

Following the close of harvest, Skyview farms will be soft launching the “Skyview market” in June, with a full launch planned for the fall. 

Applications can be submitted through the Department of Agriculture’s online portal. 

The deadline to apply is December 15th.