THE GIANT COMPANY SUPPORTS MORE THAN 100 SMALL FOOD BUSINESSES AND FARMS IN PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH EMERGENCY GRANT PROGRAM
Company doubles funding to $500,000 to provide relief during COVID-19 pandemic
The GIANT Company today announced the more than 100 recipients of its emergency grant program. Announced last month in partnership with Team Pennsylvania, The GIANT Company originally designated $250,000 for the program, but due to the overwhelming response, the company decided to double the amount of funding available to $500,000. In all, the company is awarding 110 grants to help support small businesses in Pennsylvania’s food supply chain impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“Reviewing more than 500 applications from small businesses across the Commonwealth confirmed what we knew in our hearts: that the pandemic is having a devastating impact on our small business community,” said Nicholas Bertram, president, The GIANT Company. “We’re inspired by the strength and stories of these local businesses that, in many cases, have been serving our communities for generations. As a company focused on connecting families for a better future, doubling the funding to $500,000 was an easy decision because it meant we could provide more hope and help to these hard-working families and let them know that they are not alone.”
More than 500 applications were received during the two-week application period, with more than 60 in the first 24 hours. The 110 recipients span the entire Commonwealth and represent multiple areas of the food supply chain including: dairy farms; beef, pork and poultry farms; processors; orchards; produce farms; apiaries; maple syrup producers; artisan cheesemakers; craft breweries, winemakers and cider producers; specialty yogurt, snack, sauce and condiment manufacturers; a coffee roastery and confectioner.
“Our team was honored to work together with GIANT to truly make a difference for small businesses in the commonwealth as they answer the call to feed fellow Pennsylvanians,” said Ryan Unger, President and CEO, Team Pennsylvania. “Reading through the applications it is crystal clear that we all need to find ways to support these critical cogs in our agricultural supply chain. Their experiences will help us as we work with our economic development and public sector partners to reopen and recover.”
With grants ranging from $2,500 up to $15,000, 55% of grants awarded are going to PA Preferred® companies. Also, special designations (LGBT-owned, veteran-owned, women-owned, minority-owned, USDA defined beginner rancher/farmer, USDA defined socially disadvantaged and limited resource farmer) account for more than half of the grants awarded.
The following Pennsylvania small businesses are the recipients of an emergency grant from The GIANT Company:
| Allegheny Yogurt, Mohnton |
| Anderson Family Farm, Inc., Tionesta |
| Asher’s Chocolate Co., Souderton |
| Bakery 52/Longos, Hazleton |
| Bear Mountain Orchard, Inc., Aspers |
| Bella Lucia, Inc., Altoona |
| Bella Mushroom, Landenberg |
| The Black Urban Gardeners & Farmers of Pittsburgh Co-op, Pittsburgh |
| Braund Valley Farms, Troy |
| Bream Orchards Inc., Orrtanna |
| Brenckle’s Organic Farm and Greenhouse, Zelienople |
| Brian Campbell Farms, Berwick |
| Brookmere Winery, Belleville |
| Brown’s Orchards & Farm Market, Loganville |
| Brubaker Farms, LLC, Mount Joy |
| Bumbleberry Farms, LLC, Somerset |
| Caputo Brother’s Creamery, LLC, Spring Grove |
| Central Penn Distilling, Inc. DBA Mason Dixon Distillery, Gettysburg |
| Cherry Valley Organics, Burgettstown |
| Clair D. Thompson & Sons, Inc., Jersey Shore |
| Clear Spring Farm LLC, Easton |
| Copley’s Fresh Start Farm LLC, Waterford |
| Crust Vegan Bakery, Philadelphia |
| Danikacatering LLC DBA Danika’s, Dover |
| Dawg Gone Bees, LLC, Hanover |
| David W. Pool – Fantasyland Holsteins, Robesonia |
| DnD Farm LLC, Philadelphia |
| Dries Orchards, Inc., Paxinos |
| Duda’s Farm Inc., Brownsville |
| Epic Pickles LLC, Dallastown |
| Eric Dersch, DBA Dersch Farms, Springboro |
| Excelsior Farm, Schnecksville |
| Fallen Aspen Farm, Volant |
| Farmer Fred’s, Towanda |
| Fiddle Creek Dairy, Quarryville |
| First Light Project, Philadelphia |
| Founders Market & Co., Lancaster |
| Franklin Hill Vineyards, Inc., Bangor |
| French Street Farms, Erie |
| Fruit Hollow Farms LLC, Biglerville |
| Funk Brewing Company, Emmaus |
| Garretson Orchards, Inc., Aspers |
| God’s Country Creamery, Ulysses |
| Grand Illusion Hard Cider, Carlisle |
| Guilside Farm, Chambersburg |
| Gypsy Hill, Wyalusing |
| Hackenberg Apiaries, Lewisburg |
| Harrisburg Dairies, Inc., Harrisburg |
| Haven Farmstead, Tripoli |
| Hollabaugh Bros., Inc, Biglerville |
| Hughes Farm, La Jose |
| Huntingdon Farm, Alexandria |
| Isabelle’s Kitchen Inc., Harleysville |
| J&M Farms, Windber |
| Josie Porter Farm, Stroudsburg |
| Jubilee Hilltop, Roaring Spring |
| Kasanicky Farm, Leechburg |
| Keswick Creamery at Carrock Farm, LLC, Newburg |
| Kurt Weiss Greenhouse, Mt. Carmel |
| Lancaster Hummus Co., Lancaster |
| McMullen Cattle, Ashville |
| Mellow Mink Brewing, Inc., Mechanicsburg |
| Mickey’s Wholesale Pizza, York |
| MicroValley Farms, Hellertown |
| Miller Charm Farm LLC, Tamaqua |
| Mystic Meadows, Ulster |
| The Nesting Box LLC, Kempton |
| One Village Coffee, Souderton |
| Pardoe’s Perky Peanuts, Inc., Montandon |
| Paulus Mt. Airy Orchard, Mechanicsburg |
| Penn Dairy, Winfield |
| Pennvale Farm, Columbia Cross Roads |
| Philly Pretzel Factory, State College |
| Pineybrook LLC, Markleton |
| R&S Flinchbaugh LLC, Hellam |
| Rettland Farms LLC, Gettysburg |
| Riverside Brewing, LLC (DBA Howles Maple Farm), Cambridge Springs |
| Roy Adams & Son, Inc., Sunbury |
| Roy Pitz Brewing Company, Chambersburg |
| RTZN Brands/Righteous Felon Craft Jerky, West Chester |
| Saylor’s Dairy Farm, Wellsville |
| SBK dba Small Batch Kitchen, Harleysville |
| Sechrist Farms Inc., Canton |
| Shawmut Valley Holsteins, Smethport |
| Short Hill Farm, Westfield |
| Simply Ghee LLC, Lancaster |
| SkyBlu Farms, Inc., Felton |
| Sleeper Hill Farm, Warren Center |
| Slick Dairy Farm, Edinburg |
| Snowcrest Farm, Milan |
| Snyders Beef & Blueberries, Centerville |
| SOD Family Farm, Coudersport |
| Someday Farms LLC, Salisbury |
| Star Super Bakery, Emigsville |
| Stello Foods, Inc., Punxsutawney |
| Strong Roots Organic Farm, Woodward |
| Sturges Orchard, Fombell |
| Susquehanna Mills, Muncy |
| Sweet Mama’s Mambo Sauce Jen Heasley’s Cooking With the Pros LLC, York |
| Tait Farm Foods INC, Centre Hall |
| Taylor-Pride Farm, Lawrenceville |
| Terranetti’s Italian Bakery, Mechanicsburg |
| Three Springs Fruit Farm, Aspers |
| TorchBearer Sauces LLC, Mechanicsburg |
| Tucker Hess Dairy Farm, Middlebury Center |
| Way-Har Farm Market LLC, Bernville |
| Weavers Orchard, Morgantown |
| Weaver’s Way, Philadelphia |
| The Winery at Wynridge, Dallastown |
| Worth the Wait Farm, Stevens |
“We have been in business since 1887 and we are a 5th generation family run business. We’ve been through the Great Depression, floods and fire but this is by far the worst in modern memory because not only does it affect us but it affects ALL of our customers – no one is left out,” said Karen Thompson, Clair D. Thompson’s and Son’s Inc. in Jersey Shore, Pa. and one of the grant recipients. “It has been very stressful, and this grant has helped to alleviate some of that pressure. We are extremely grateful and appreciate The GIANT Company for this grant that we shall use to continue our employees’ insurance benefits during the time they are forced off work, to help with expenses to continue additional sanitation and to upgrade our facility to meet this new market demand for individual packaging.”
The GIANT Company and Team Pennsylvania also worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Economic and Community Development, the Pennsylvania Department of Agricultur, the Pennsylvania Chamber, and Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association to develop the program.