Martelle Market is Choose Iowa recipient

   Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced on April 22 that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has awarded 33 Choose Iowa value-added grants to Iowa farmers and small businesses located in 28 counties.

   One of those is The Martelle Market in Martelle, which will receive a grant of $10,376 to help construct a farm market and licensed commercial kitchen to better serve customers. The full estimated cost of the project is $20,742.53.

   Grant recipients were eligible to receive up to $25,000 in cost-share per project to increase or diversify their agricultural product offerings, expand markets or shorten supply chains.

   “Consumers increasingly want more locally-grown food, beverages and ag products, and that’s great news for Iowa farmers and small businesses,” said Secretary 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 fIowa products, but we’re also fueling economic opportunity in communities all across the state.”

   Individual, businesses, and non-profit organizations that are currently living or operating in Iowa were eligible to apply for the Choose Iowa grants, and preference was given to small to medium-sized entities. This year, IDALS received 99 eligible grant requests totaling more than $1.7 million – more than four times the available funding – underscoring the interest and demand for funding to support local foods  programs.

   Since the Choose Iowa value-added grant program was launched in 2022, the department has awarded nearly $1.64 million in state funded cost-share to 100 projects.

   Choose Iowa is the state’s signature branding and marketing program for Iowa-grown, Iowa-raised and Iowa-made food, beverages and ag  products. For information, visit ChooseIowa.com.