StartUp Hutch Announces Latest Rural Business Microgrant Awards
StartUp Hutch has awarded two additional Rural Business Resilience & Expansion Initiative Microgrants to businesses in Arlington.
The latest recipients are:
• Francisco Villanueva, Carolyn’s Essenhaus
• Destiny Love, Farmers Insurance
The Rural Business Resilience & Expansion Initiative Microgrant program provides grants of up to $2,500 to support small businesses and business projects that contribute to the strength and long-term vitality of rural Reno County communities.
“These grants are about making practical investments in the businesses and people serving our rural communities,” said Graham Klemme, executive director of StartUp Hutch.
“Whether a business is working to grow, improve its operations or respond to a need in its community, we want this program to help make those next steps a little more attainable.”
The latest awards follow the program’s first microgrant to Amy Allbright, founder of Main Street Bodega in Arlington. That grant helped support the purchase of a cooler for the new essentials store, increasing access to refrigerated goods such as milk for local residents.
Applications for the Rural Business Resilience & Expansion Initiative Microgrants remain open and are accepted on a rolling basis. Rural projects in Reno County are preferred.
Eligible businesses may apply for up to $2,500 to support expansion, activate underutilized spaces, strengthen essential services or address local industry and community needs. These grants are made possible with support from the Hutchinson Community Foundation’s Fund for Reno County.
