South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship announced June 15 it has awarded $185,000 to be shared by 12 South Carolina entrepreneurs, including Split Creek Farm of Anderson and Bio Way Farm of Ware Shoals.
Split Creek Farm is a goat farm and cheesemaker that will use its portion of the funds to modernize its milk bottling to better meet customer demand.
Bio Way Farm grows organic produce. The farm plans to use its funds to build a new packing shed and commercial kitchen to reduce produce waste and support its continued expansion.
Other awardees are:
- Sakhar Jams of Columbia
- Grateville Acres of Paxville
- Gullah Man Oyster Co of Saint Helena Island
- Old Tyme Bean Co. of Calhoun County
- Purebred Compost of Warrenville
- Momma B’s Farm of Edgefield County
- Joyful Souls Heirloom Nursery of Columbia
- Altman Farm and Mill of Florence
- Peculiar Pig Farm of Dorchester
- Set in Stone Sustainability Farm of Jenkinsville
Awardees were chosen from a group of finalists who pitched to a panel of judges on June 7 and were scored based on their business plans, a five-minute video presentation and their demonstrated history of business success.
“Through ACRE, we spotlight and assist some truly deserving entrepreneurs,” said S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers. “To ensure a bright future for South Carolina agriculture, we need to continue supporting their creativity, drive and vision.”
SCDA founded ACRE in 2018 to help identify and nurture new ideas and businesses in state’s agribusiness sector. ACRE also partners with Clemson Extension to offer a curriculum program each fall to train and mentor beginning agricultural entrepreneurs and prepare them to seek advanced award funding. For more information, visit acre-sc.com.
