Photo / Tim Greenway
Amber Lambke
1 hour ago
Maine Grains secures $700k in grants toward planned expansion in Skowhegan
Photo / Courtesy Sheridan Corp.
Pictured is a rendering of the new Maine Grains building in Skowhegan.
Maine Grains, based in Skowhegan, has secured $700,000 in grants this year to purchase new equipment, build production capacity and reuse byproducts.
In a news release Monday, Maine Grains, which operates its grist mill at the former Somerset County county jail downtown, announced that it will use the funding to purchase a German-made “specialized cereal extrusion equipment line. The equipment is estimated to cost $1.3 million.
Maine Grains was awarded $250,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. The funding also includes $200,000 from New England Food Vision and $250,000 from the Maine Technology Institute’s Prime-2 fund.
"Financing growth in rural areas is difficult, and the grants are a vote of confidence that our state and regional philanthropic organizations see the value in local food production to strengthen job opportunities and the health of our small farms and communities," said Amber Lambke, founder and CEO of Maine Grains and a 2022 Mainebiz Buisness Leader of the Year.
Maine Grains said the equipment will produce healthy, ready grain-based foods with locally sourced ingredients. It will also enable them to "upcycle" byproducts from milling, cheesemaking, seaweed, blueberry and soy products into high-fiber, high-protein packaged goods for sale to schools and institutions.
About the project
The equipment line will be housed in an 80,000-square-foot building planned for the lot adjacent to Maine Grains.
In May, Mainebiz reported that the building was appraised for $7.5 million. Lambke said a final figure will be determined by the end of December.
Lambke purchased the site in 2020. It is expected to house the Skowhegan Farmers’ Market, Maine Grains administrative offices, space to blend and package grains for value-added products and an area for online order fulfillment.
The new site is expected to house an expanded dry goods shop with a demonstration area and a large social hall to accommodate the winter farmers’ market and community gatherings. There will also be rental space for entrepreneurs.
Maine Grains told Mainebiz that the company plans to break ground in spring 2025, pending final financing.
Lambke said the new production lines and sales are expected to add 15 jobs when complete. The company currently employs 20.
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