The Heartland Regional Food Business Center’s first round of the Business Builder grant program brought an incredible response from food and farm entrepreneurs across its five-state region. A total of 479 applicants, representing small to mid-sized food and farm businesses, submitted their applications by the October 15, 2024, deadline. Each applicant seeks support to reach new stages of business growth, contributing to a resilient, locally-sourced food supply. Two more application rounds for the Business Builder grant are pending in 2025.
Building Food System Resilience
The Heartland Regional Food Business Center is one of 12 Regional Food Business Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These centers were established to help strengthen local food economies by supporting food and farm businesses at various stages of development. Co-directed by New Growth community development corporation and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the Heartland Center collaborates with 12 other key partners and 20 collaborating organizations across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and northwest Arkansas.
The Heartland Center’s mission is to provide small, mid-sized, and historically underserved food and farm businesses with resources to grow and scale their operations. In addition to the the Business Builder grant, the Heartland Center offers business training, counseling, resource navigation, and regional network building. It is designed to help make locally produced food a key component of the regional and national food supply chain, strengthening both community resilience and economic stability.
Applications By the Numbers
Round 1 of the Business Builder grant program received funding requests totaling $20,021,077, with an average request per applicant of $41,798.
Here’s a deeper look at some initial applicant data:
State Representation
Applicants came from across the Heartland Center region:
- Arkansas: 17
- Iowa: 63
- Kansas: 124
- Missouri: 105
- Nebraska: 101
- Oklahoma: 68
This wide reach across states demonstrates the demand for resources that can help food businesses of all types and sizes scale up.
Applicant Demographics
Charts below break down key data related to:
Race: This reflects applicant races, offering insights for enhancing diversity.
Type of Organization: This showcases the variety of applicants, from sole proprietors to cooperatives.
Time in Business: This reflects range of experience among applicants, from startups to long-established enterprises.
Rounds 2 and 3 Coming Up
Round 1 applications are currently being reviewed through several levels to ensure fair and thorough evaluation. Final award notifications are anticipated mid January 2025.
For those who missed this round or are ready to apply again, the next round of Business Builder grant applications will be open mid January 2024, with a submission deadline of mid March, 2025.
Now is the perfect time to prepare if you’re considering applying for the next round. Reach out for assistance by visiting the Business Builder Help page and exploring helpful resources available on the Heartland Food Business Center’s website. Receiving technical assistance is worth extra points in the application, but don’t wait for the last minute for a technical assistance appointment.
Whether you’re a new food business owner or a seasoned entrepreneur, the Heartland Center’s Business Builder grant program is here to support your growth journey, paving the way for a resilient and diverse food system in our region.