Melinda Waldrop //June 23, 2022//
Nine agribusiness entrepreneurs have been awarded a share of $150,000 in the latest round of the S.C. Department of Agriculture’s Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship funding.
The businesses range from an oyster and mushroom farm to a mobile coffee truck and include the most agribusinesses focused on sustainability in the program’s history, according to a news release. Of the awardees, five had previously participated in ACRE’s Agribusiness Planning Curriculum program for beginning entrepreneurs.
SCDA founded ACRE in 2018 to help identify and nurture agribusiness innovation.
“We are excited to see agribusinesses who previously participated in our Curriculum Program now being able to pursue more funding resources under the Advanced Program,” Kyle Player, ACRE executive director, said in the release.
Fourteen finalists pitched business plans to a panel of judges who selected the winners based on business plans, a video pitch and need for capital.
“ACRE does a phenomenal job of helping homegrown agribusinesses advance their operations through funding and industry connections,” S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers said. “I look forward to seeing how these entrepreneurs’ success impacts South Carolina’s agriculture industry.”
This year’s winners, representing seven S.C. counties are: