Kansas City, MO, January 3, 2026
A new $2.15 million grant from the Patterson Family Foundation aims to enhance small food and farm businesses across western Missouri and Kansas. Spearheaded by New Growth, this initiative fills resource gaps created by federal funding cuts and emphasizes local entrepreneurship’s resilience. The funding will support essential activities like business training, one-on-one coaching, and expansion grants, promoting regional economic growth and self-sufficiency. By focusing on the agricultural sector, the grant seeks to foster a resilient local food system that benefits communities in the area.
Kansas City, MO – Rural Grant Sparks New Life for Local Food Economy
A significant private investment is set to invigorate small food and farm businesses across western Missouri and Kansas, filling a critical resource void after recent federal funding adjustments. This initiative underscores the enduring spirit of local entrepreneurs and the vital role of private sector support in fostering regional economic vitality, especially in areas where traditional funding streams have seen changes. It’s a testament to the proactive approach taken by community-focused organizations to ensure sustained growth and opportunity.
The grant highlights how targeted private funding can empower Missouri MO entrepreneurs and enhance economic resilience. By focusing on essential sectors like agriculture and food production, this support directly benefits local communities, cultivating an environment where innovation can flourish and small businesses can expand their reach. This strategic investment in rural development helps strengthen the foundations of the regional economy, promoting self-sufficiency and robust local markets.
Filling a Critical Gap for Rural Entrepreneurs
New Growth, a nonprofit rural community development corporation based in Appleton City, Missouri, recently announced a $2.15 million Patterson Family Foundation grant designed to bolster small food and farm businesses. This substantial two-year grant steps in at a crucial time, especially following the recent federal funding reductions for the Heartland Regional Food Business Center by the USDA. The grant is specifically aimed at boosting food-related work in Kansas and western Missouri, providing necessary resources and programs to businesses rooted in smaller communities. The Patterson Family Foundation’s focus on rural areas exemplifies a responsive and impactful approach to economic development.
This initiative represents a strategic response to ensure that vital support for rural enterprises continues without interruption. Private investment, such as this grant, demonstrates a belief in the inherent strength and potential of local economies to adapt and thrive, even in the face of broader shifts in public funding. It reinforces the idea that innovative solutions often emerge from local partnerships and dedicated philanthropic efforts, rather than solely relying on government programs. This proactive stance supports the entrepreneurial spirit that drives economic growth from the ground up.
Empowering Small Food and Farm Businesses
A core component of the grant is its direct support for enterprises, with $1 million allocated for grants to help businesses enhance their capacity to bring local food products to market. This funding empowers individual entrepreneurs to expand their operations and reach new customers, which is a key driver for Kansas City small business growth. The grant facilitates various activities crucial for business development, including business training workshops and one-on-one business coaching, which encompasses technical assistance and market connections. These resources are fundamental for small businesses looking to refine their strategies and improve their market presence.
Beyond training and coaching, the grant also provides direct business expansion grants to food and farm entrepreneurs. This capital injection can be transformative, enabling businesses to invest in infrastructure, equipment, or increased production. Furthermore, the initiative offers logistical support to aggregators and distributors of local foods, commonly known as food hubs, and promotes coordination among these hubs for greater regional supply and distribution. This comprehensive support network aims to foster sustainable economic growth by ensuring that local producers have the tools and connections needed to succeed, thereby strengthening the entire supply chain. The program also includes regional resource development, which covers small farm financing.
A Collaborative Approach to Regional Growth
The success of this grant hinges on a collaborative network of partners. New Growth will lead efforts to hire a farm business counselor and provide support to three key organizations: The Food Circle, The Kansas City Food Hub, and University of Missouri Extension. These partners are instrumental in delivering business assistance and market access to rural food and farm enterprises within the Patterson Family Foundation’s western Missouri and Kansas catchment area. This collaboration highlights the power of community engagement and shared objectives in driving economic progress.
The grant also extends its reach through the Heartland Food Business Coalition, a broader network that New Growth convenes and supports. This coalition, which emerged after the cessation of USDA funding for the Heartland Regional Food Business Center, now operates across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and northwest Arkansas. This regional approach ensures that knowledge, resources, and best practices can be shared across state lines, fostering a more interconnected and resilient agricultural landscape. Such partnerships exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit, allowing diverse entities to pool their strengths for a common goal of regional development.
Economic Impact for Western Missouri and Kansas
The implications of this grant for Missouri’s economic growth are substantial. Agriculture and food industries are cornerstones of the state’s economy. In 2021, the Missouri agriculture industry contributed $34.9 billion in GDP and generated nearly $94 billion in sales, supporting more than 456,000 jobs. The state’s robust food industry comprises nearly 500 companies and almost 100,000 farms. This new funding directly supports this vital sector, promoting job creation and sustaining local livelihoods.
Small businesses, defined as firms with fewer than 500 employees, are crucial to the state’s employment landscape, having accounted for 1.2 million employees in Missouri in 2019. Food and beverage manufacturing in Missouri alone saw a 10% increase in employment from 2010 to 2020, adding 4,222 jobs. In 2020, the state had 841 food and beverage manufacturers employing nearly 47,500 workers. This grant provides a fresh infusion of capital and expertise that can further accelerate these positive trends, reinforcing the resilience of the local economy and empowering more individuals to pursue entrepreneurial ventures within the food and farm sector.
Fostering a Resilient Local Food System
Investing in small food and farm businesses also contributes to building a more resilient local food system. By empowering local producers and strengthening regional supply chains, communities become less dependent on distant and potentially volatile national or international markets. This emphasis on local production and distribution channels offers both economic stability and increased access to fresh, healthy food for residents. The grant’s support for food hubs and their coordination is particularly important for this goal, as these entities are critical connectors between local farms and consumers.
Such initiatives showcase how community-led efforts and private philanthropy can proactively shape economic outcomes, demonstrating that entrepreneurial drive, combined with strategic support, can overcome challenges. This local empowerment often thrives in environments that encourage private initiative and reduce unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, allowing businesses to respond more agilely to market needs and opportunities. The development of robust, localized food networks contributes to overall community well-being and sustained Midlands economic growth.
Conclusion
The $2.15 million grant from the Patterson Family Foundation, spearheaded by New Growth, represents a significant investment in the future of rural food and farm businesses in western Missouri and Kansas. By providing essential training, coaching, and financial support, this initiative empowers Missouri MO entrepreneurs and strengthens the agricultural backbone of our region. It is a powerful example of how private funding and collaborative efforts can step in to ensure continued economic vitality and foster a resilient local food system, creating a positive ripple effect throughout Kansas City MO business communities and beyond.
We encourage all residents to support our local food and farm businesses. By choosing locally sourced products, you directly contribute to the economic health and vibrancy of our communities, helping to build a stronger, more self-reliant Midlands economic growth for generations to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the $2.15 million grant?
The purpose of the $2.15 million Patterson Family Foundation grant is to foster entrepreneurship, enrich local food systems, expand child-care access, and sustain a volunteer driver network, specifically to boost food work in Kansas and western Missouri by strengthening businesses rooted in small communities with innovative resources and programs.
Which organization announced the grant?
The grant was announced by New Growth, a nonprofit rural community development corporation based in Appleton City, Missouri.
What kind of businesses will benefit from this grant?
Small food and farm businesses, particularly in rural areas of Kansas and western Missouri, are expected to benefit from this grant.
What specific activities does the grant fund for businesses?
The grant funds business training workshops; one-on-one business coaching and technical assistance, including market connections; business expansion grants to food and farm entrepreneurs; logistical support to aggregators and distributors of local foods (food hubs); coordination among food hubs for greater regional supply and distribution; and regional resource development, including small farm financing.
What is the amount specifically allocated for business expansion grants?
Funding includes $1 million for grants to support enterprises in building their capacity to bring local food products to market.
Which partners will New Growth collaborate with in Kansas City and Missouri?
New Growth plans to hire a farm business counselor and support three partners: The Food Circle, The Kansas City Food Hub, and University of Missouri Extension. These partners will provide business assistance and market access to rural food and farm enterprises in the Patterson Family Foundation’s western Missouri and Kansas catchment area.
What is the economic impact of the agriculture industry in Missouri?
The Missouri agriculture industry contributed $34.9 billion in GDP to Missouri’s economy in 2021 and generated nearly $94 billion in sales, supporting more than 456,000 jobs.
Key Features of the Rural Economic Development Grant
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Grant Amount | $2.15 million Patterson Family Foundation grant |
| Recipient Organization | New Growth, a nonprofit rural community development corporation based in Appleton City, Missouri |
| Geographic Focus | Kansas and western Missouri, and a broader five-state coalition (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and northwest Arkansas) |
| Primary Goal | Foster entrepreneurship, enrich local food systems, expand child-care access, and sustain a volunteer driver network |
| Funding for Business Grants | $1 million for grants to support enterprises in building their capacity to bring local food products to market |
| Key Activities Funded | Business training, one-on-one coaching, business expansion grants, logistical support for food hubs, coordination among food hubs, regional resource development (including small farm financing) |
| Local Partners | The Food Circle, The Kansas City Food Hub, and University of Missouri Extension |
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Author: STAFF HERE KANSAS CITY WRITER
The KANSAS CITY STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKansasCity.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Kansas City, Jackson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as American Royal World Series of Barbecue, Dia De Los Muertos, and Planet Anime Kansas City. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Kansas City, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and entertainment that power the local economy such as Children's Mercy Hospital, Government Employees Health Association, and AMC Entertainment. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREStLouis.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Missouri's dynamic landscape.
