Move the Needle Grant Supports Agricultural Processors and Manufacturers
In partnership with: Colorado Department of Agriculture
In the early days of the pandemic, practically empty store shelves forced many consumers to turn to locally owned businesses. Unfortunately, the same supply chain and demand issues seriously impacted these producers.
In 2021, the Colorado Department of Agriculture formulated a plan to dispense the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to develop a new grant program called Move the Needle. This program helped business owners expand their operations to meet increased demand.
Out of 64 applications, the CDA awarded $332,000 worth of Move the Needle grant money to seven small businesses.
Two of the small businesses, Nola Naturals and Jojo’s Sriracha, received Move the Needle grants because of their plans for increased production.
Nola Naturals
Nola Naturals owner and co-founder Nicole “Nick” Perchess heard about the Move the Needle grant from a fellow farmer and eagerly applied. She and her partner sell frozen chicken, other cuts of meat and produce at farmers markets. During the pandemic, the Avondale-based company experienced a surge in business when food supply was scarce.
They looked into acquiring a poultry processing facility to meet demand and a new space to house it. Right as she learned about Move the Needle, Perchess also found an existing poultry processing facility and made an offer.
“Soon after meeting the deadline for the grant, we found out that we were going to be the new owners of the land for the facility and that we had received the grant,” Perchess says.
The $20,000 grant from CDA helped Nola Naturals pay for all-electric septic and HVAC systems, a large commercial smoker, personal protective equipment, payroll and sanitation.
“Because of that grant money, this facility is completely up and operational,” Perchess says.
See more: Pandemic Partnerships: Coloradans Serve Their Communities With Fresh, Local Food
Jojo’s Sriracha
Jolene Collins found herself in a similar manufacturing pickle during the pandemic.
Collins founded Jojo’s Sriracha in 2012 after discovering most bottled sriracha was packed full of salt, sugar and preservatives. She set out to make a higher quality version with better ingredients and less filler.
The Pueblo business ran smoothly until spring 2020 when Collins struggled to find jars and other essentials required to make her products.
“We now have to source jars and closures nine months out as opposed to three or four weeks out,” she says. “The capital and risk required to do that is a big strain on our small business.”
Collins used the $35,000 Move the Needle grant funds to purchase a food processor to chop fresh chile into a mash and a Blixer to blend the mash smooth before jarring.
“Both pieces of machinery have increased our processing capacity by 200 to 300%,” Collins says.
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