The Colorado Grain Chain is a nonprofit organization that grows and connects a community-centered grain economy. The organization will be awarding six, $5,000 grants to businesses in the middle phase — after harvest and before retail — of the organic grain supply chain.

Grant applications are being accepted until Sept. 27 and are available on the Colorado Grain Chain website.

This year’s microgrant program is made possible through the USDA Organic Market Development Grant.

Executive director of the Colorado Grain Chain, Lisa Boldt, explained that the organization works to “enhance market opportunities” for both producers and processors of organic grains in Colorado.

“Those involved in the middle of the supply chain play a critical role in making grains more accessible to brewers, bakers, and food manufacturers, and ultimately consumers. We are excited to offer this microgrant program to help raise awareness and demand for Colorado-grown grain products,” Boldt said.

Interested applicants must be certified organic or in the process of becoming certified organic. Those involved in milling, malting, processing, manufacturing, cleaning, storage, transportation or distribution are invited to apply for the grant.

Eric Larkin is the cofounder of Cohesion Brewing in Denver and 2023 microgrant recipient.

“Receiving a microgrant allowed us to make a collaborative beer, using Colorado grown grains, with a larger brewery partner that could package and distribute the beer to a wider range of customers,” Larkin said. “We have always been an advocate for using locally grown grains, and being able to make people aware of the grain available here in Colorado while continuing to find new avenues to use those raw materials was incredibly exciting.”

The press release outlines a few qualified projects that grant funds may be used for:

• Increasing organic grain storage capacity with the purchase of pallet shelving, hard-sided grain bins or other vessels.
• Purchasing a specialized piece of equipment for malting, milling, seed cleaning, sorting or labeling.
• Hiring a public relations firm for marketing or advertising value-added products or the business’ role in the organic grain value chain. 
• Buying a delivery vehicle to specifically alleviate organic grain supply chain bottlenecks.
• Making improvements or alterations to an existing building to use the space more effectively or to accommodate new equipment.