RI DEM Awards Over $200,000 in Grants to Local Food Businesses

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RI DEM Awards Over $200,000 in Grants to Local Food Businesses

DEM Director Janet Coit
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) awarded more than $200,000 to 21 local for businesses as part of its annual Agriculture “Ag” Day celebration at the State House. 

See the Award Winners Below

The awards help new and existing small businesses and food initiatives prosper in Rhode Island. 

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“LASA continues to be an important catalyst in growing our food and agricultural businesses in Rhode Island. It’s fitting to celebrate these awards and the initiatives they help fund during the annual Ag Day celebration, which shines a bright light on our state’s vibrant food scene and rich agricultural and fishing heritage. Kudos to all grant recipients! I look forward to celebrating the success of these initiatives,”  said DEM Director Janet Coit. 

The awards were funded under the Local Agriculture & Seafood Act (LASA). 

“I'm always very excited to see the new crop of LASA grantees each year. The progress and success of these businesses, with the help of a program like LASA, is proof positive of the economic growth in the food and drink cluster here in Rhode Island and the Council is always proud to support that growth,”  said David Dadekian, chair of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council.

LASA has provided more than $900,000 in grants in its four years in existence. 

The 2017 LASA grant awards include: 

  • Backyard Food Company, $6,890: Expand greenhouse production space
  • Brandon Family Farm, $5,229: Support creation of pawpaw fruit orchard
  • Charlie’s Sugarhouse, $3,000: Expand parking area for education programs
  • Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, $18,255: Develop an educational series for restaurateurs on local seafood products
  • Hocus Pocus Farm, $6,578: Improve soil conservation by transitioning to a no-till method of farming
  • Hurricane Hill Farm Collaborative, $19,836: Provide incubator farm space & to support infrastructure
  • Jerusalem Shellfish Co., LLC, $10,000: Restore a walk-in cooler & ice maker
  • Little River Farm, $3,500: Support expansion of caterpillar hoop house tunnels to help extend the farming season
  • Little State Flower Company, $8,949: Help develop historic farm site & expand flower growing business
  • Moonrose Farm, $6,362: Purchase a mobile walk-in cooler
  • Mooresfield Oyster Farm, $15,072: Enhance food safety measures
  • Northern RI Conservation District, $19,613: Help expand farming opportunities at Snake Den Farm
  • Ocean State Oyster Hatchery, $9,000: Purchase & install a commercial generator
  • Pat’s Pastured, $12,500: Improve chicken coops for greater efficiency & humane raising of birds
  • Point Judith Kelp Company, $6,000: Support wild seaweed harvest & development of new products
  • Rhode Island Shellfisherman’s Association, $1,931: Repair & upgrade upweller
  • Sanctuary Teas & Herbs, $12,160: Help launch this new business venture with refugee farmers
  • Walrus and Carpenter Oysters LLC, $12,000: Support expansion of sugar kelp hatchery
  • Westbay Community Action, $4,510: Develop cold storage & a new farm stand
  • West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation/Sankofa Initiative, $17,015: Support purchase of cold storage for produce grown at Sankofa community farm
  • Wild Harmony Farm, $11,600: Purchase an egg-washing machine & expand capacity

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