U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe and U.S. Senator Susan Collins today announced that three Maine small businesses will be receiving a combined $433,840 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of the USDA Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grant Program. These grants provide small, developing businesses with the working capital needed to expand.
· The Peaked Mountain Farm in Dedham will receive $114,240 for the marketing campaign for wild blueberry “Bite o’ Blue” dog treats
· Linkletter Timberlands in Athens will receive $300,000 to fund the acquisition of feedstock to enhance the availability of local biomass
· Painted Pepper Farm in Steuben will receive $19,600 for the planning of a goat ice cream production facility
“This grant funding will provide these three businesses with the funding they need to grow,” noted Senators Snowe and Collins in a joint statement. “It is exciting to watch the development of Maine’s small businesses. We are pleased to announce this funding.”
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