Technical Assistance Grants

The Maine Grain Alliance Grows Businesses

Download the request for Proposals

Examples of Previous Grant Awards

Please email completed proposals to: [email protected]

Application Deadline: September 30, 2022 5:00 pm

Awards Announcement: Late October 2022

Your Application should not exceed 2 pages in length. It would be helpful for you to frame your application using the headings and information below and please be specific.

Brief Business Overview

Your business
Grain community involvement

Brief description of TA/Equipment need

Equipment or Service needed
Why is this important to you
How will this improvement help you grow

Financials

Identified TA provider, scope of work and timeline
TA provider hourly rate
Total cost of TA or Equipment (if a grant from MGA will not cover the full cost of the TA, please indicate how the balance of the cost will be covered)

Request for Proposals

Maine Grain Alliance
P.O. Box 1140
Skowhegan, Maine 04976

Technical Assistance Grant Program
For immediate release
August 15, 2022

The Maine Grain Alliance seeks applications to award mini-grants of $250 – $1,000 to fund need-based technical assistance (TA) and equipment that will help grain-based business owners secure economic opportunities in Maine.

Examples of technical assistance might include, but are not limited to: hiring someone to help with business planning, hiring a consultant, advisor or expert, marketing/logo/brand development, website creation, attending a course or mentoring opportunity, hiring an architect, engineer, mechanical specialist, buying a needed piece of machinery or getting legal support. Please specify one area of technical assistance for which you are seeking grant support.

Grain-based business owners and entrepreneurs demonstrating financial need are welcome to apply. The Maine Grain Alliance is especially interested in assisting participants, presenters, panelists, work-study students, and scholarship recipients of the Kneading Conference which has been held annually since 2007.

For more information about the Maine Grain Alliance and its other programs, please visit http://www.mainegrainalliance.org The Maine Grain Alliance is a 501c3 non-profit organization. This technical assistance grant program is made possible by Allagash Brewing Company, Skowhegan Savings, and Franklin Savings Bank.

Download a PDF of the Request for Proposals

Examples of Previous Grants

Below you will find examples from of grant awards from our latests grant funding round. Our grants of $250-$1,000 are used to fund need-based technical assistance and equipment that will help grain-based business owners secure economic opportunities in Maine.

In 2021, we funded $10,552 in grants as part of this program.

The Good Crust – in support of enhancing website functionality
Hootenanny Bread – in support of professional quality media equipment
The Somali Bantu Community Association’s Liberation Farms Program – in support of flint corn processing and post-harvest grain handling equipment
Songbird Farm – in support of a hand bagger
Uproot Pie Co.- in support of kitchen equipment
Vesper Bread – in support of infrastructure to power commercial mixer
Winterberry Farm – in support of professional development and baking education
Sanctuary Baking -in support of a dough mixer
Afterglow Ice Cream Sammies – in support of business planning and consultation
Just Crackers in support of a dough sheeter
Spark Bagel – in support of a mill

In 2020, we funded $12,495 in grants as part of this program.

Acadia Clay Ovens– in support of expanding exposure of the business through target print advertising.
Au Bon Vivant Artisan Bakery – in support of a portion of cost relating to build-out of infrastructure and equipment
The Bankery– in support of product development
Bigelow Fields Bread House – in support of hiring professional baking consultants
Brazen Baking – in support of packaging solutions
The Good Crust – in support of baking equipment for entrepreneur to feature Maine grown-grains.
Hello, Good Pie Bakery & Gourmet Kitchen – in support of a labeling solutions
Hootenanny Bread – in support of baking equipment, maintenance, restoration, and training costs
The Somali Bantu Community Association’s Liberation Farms Program – in support of flint corn processing and post-harvest grain handling equipment
The Miller’s Table at Maine Grains – in support of contracting a business consultant for a new project
Night Moves Bread – in support of equipment and installation by a bakery equipment specialist
Old Dog Baking Company – in support of materials, equipment, and infrastructure
ORA BREADS Volunteer Baking Guild – in support of baking equipment
Rusted Rooster Farm– in support of grain storage infrastructure
Songbird Farm – in support of post-harvest grain infrastructure
Tumbledown Brewing – in support of brewing equipment
Uproot Pie Co.- in support of purchase of baking equipment
Wild Folk Farm/Maine Rice Project – in support of post-harvest grain equipment
ZU Bakery – in support of baking equipment

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