SC agribusiness grant backs 21 companies statewide

Twenty-one promising agribusinesses will receive some of the capital, tools and networking they need to grow and become competitive.

The winners of the Cultivating Innovation in SC Agribusiness grant program were announced by the South Carolina Research Authority, the Wells Fargo Foundation, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture and the South Carolina Small Business Development Centers, which collaborated to fund and create the acceleration program.

“We’re proud to partner with these organizations to deliver a program that directly supports South Carolina’s farmers and agribusinesses,” SCRA Interim President and CEO Bill Kirkland said in a news release. “This cohort represents innovative operators already leveraging technology to grow their businesses, and through this initiative, we’re helping them access capital, scale faster and strengthen their operations to compete and thrive in a rapidly evolving agricultural landscape.”

S.C. Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers, S.C. SBDC Senior Consultant Jim Johnson and Wells Fargo Foundation President Darlene Goins gave remarks and participated in a check presentation ceremony.

The 21 small- to medium-sized agribusinesses will form a cohort in the acceleration program, where they can test ideas more quickly and strengthen their enterprises, the release stated.

“We believe investing in rural prosperity is essential for the future of South Carolina and the nation,” Goins said in the release. “That’s why we’re proud to support the Cultivating Innovation in South Carolina Agribusiness program with a $600,000 grant. By collaborating with public and private sector leaders, technical experts and business advisors, we are helping small farms grow stronger and foster thriving rural communities across the state.”

SCRA Business Development Director Mitch Smith said the selected agribusinesses were already on a path to success and that the program will help them reach their next milestones. Cohort members have already participated in webinars, received guidance from the South Carolina Small Business Development Centers and taken part in networking and peer-to-peer learning opportunities.

Grant winners include:

• Advent Innovations — Richland County
• Airguard — Greenville County
• BioSensor Solutions — Richland County
• Broad River Vineyards — Chester County
• Carolina Seed Systems — Florence County
• Circular Farms — Aiken County
• City Roots — Richland County
• Crossroads Processing — Lexington County
• Edisto Gold Honey — Dorchester County
• Growing Green Family Farms — Anderson County
• Kindlewood Farms — Colleton County
• Lowcountry Fungi — Charleston County
• Marsh Hen Mill — Charleston County
• Microledon Farm — Horry County
• Old McCaskill’s Farm — Sumter County
• Peculiar Pig — Dorchester County
• Purple Mushroom — Richland County
• Realize Ascent Lab — Charleston County
• Spade and Clover — Charleston County
• Timber Wolf Services LLC — Aiken County
• Wet Knot Farms — Greenville County

The Cultivating Innovation in SC Agribusiness grant program represents a targeted investment in South Carolina’s agribusiness future, aligning Wells Fargo’s philanthropic goals with the needs of a key state industry.

The South Carolina Research Authority is a public nonprofit corporation that supports the state’s innovation economy through funding, workspace and services for technology-based startups, academia and industry.