Application deadline for grants available for grain-bases businesses May 11

SKOWHEGAN — The Maine Grain Alliance is seeking applications to award up to $2,000 grants as part of its newly established Emergency Relief Fund.
The fund supports grain-based business owners with unexpected expenses relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and aids in costs associated with reopening businesses. These costs may include payroll expenses, acquiring of supplies (including personal protective equipment), transitions to online sales, curbside or delivery of products, and other unexpected costs.
The deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Monday, May 11, at 5 p.m.; award will be announced will be Friday, May 15.
Grain-based business owners and entrepreneurs demonstrating financial need are welcome to apply. The MGA is especially interested in assisting participants, presenters, panelists, work-study students, vendors and scholarship recipients of the Kneading Conference and Maine Artisan Bread Fair.
The MGA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This emergency relief fund program is made possible by the generous support of the Bill and Joan Alfond Foundation, Maine Grains, Redington Fairview General Hospital, Slow Money Maine, the Lisa Stern Memorial Scholarship Fund, and Maine Farmland Trust, as well as contributions from the Maine Grain Alliance Board of Directors, and friends of the organization.
Email completed proposals to tristan@mainegrainalliance.com
The application should not exceed two pages in length. Include:
* Brief business overview
* Requested amount
* Describe your situation. How has the pandemic affected your daily operations?
* How will you use the money?
* How many staff do you employ? How many are at risk?