“Big Grove for Good” Launches New Micro-Grant Program

Big Grove Brewery, one of Iowa’s largest breweries with four locations in central and Eastern Iowa, has created a microgrant program through its new foundation, Big Grove for Good, a private 501c3, developed to administer the program. The group began accepting microgrant applications on March 7.

The first of its kind in the beer industry, this initiative expands the popular brewery’s annual donations by adding year-round microgrants for small-scale, high-impact community projects.

The Neighborhood Beer Micro-Grant Program empowers individuals and neighbors to bring positive change to their communities with grants ranging from $250 to $1,000. These grants help to strengthen community bonds and create lasting change, the program website states. Projects might include planting trees, adding a basketball court, or building a lending library.

Big Grove for Good has kick-started the microgrants by providing $20,000 as seed money. Ongoing funding for the microgrants comes directly from the sales of The Neighborhood Beer, a new American light lager (similar to Boomtown beer), now available at all Big Grove taprooms and Hy-Vee, Fairway, and liquor stores in Iowa, Nebraska, and Western Illinois since March 10.

"(We're) using our beer sales to directly fund neighborhood improvement projects led by the people who live there," said Matt Swift, cofounder and CEO of Big Grove. “We intentionally build where we can contribute to revitalization efforts.” The brewery is among Iowa’s top beer producers and is a Top 100 craft brewery nationally. See photo of Swift

For every case sold, $1 goes directly to Big Grove for Good for the neighborhood betterment grants, wherever Big Grove beer is poured or distributed. Pints are available at $5 a pour in each taproom, with proceeds going to the foundation.

As part of this program, the foundation has created a new website, www.biggroveforgood.com, with a direct QR code link found on beer cases. The application for microgrants is accessible there.

Board members review the applications and determine the microgrants. They also will oversee Big Grove's other community-focused initiatives, including in-kind donation requests, sponsorships, and grants to various nonprofit organizations.

Doug Goettsch, Big Grove cofounder, chairs the foundation’s board of directors. Members include Mikala Demet is the foundation’s executive director and Big Grove’s community and project manager, Whitney Wessling, Executive Assistant to the CEO, and foundation secretary; Damian Thompson, Interim Exec Director for Iowa Safe Schools in Des Moines; Debbie Ackerman, Johnson County Director and Director of Community Building and Engagement at HACAP in Cedar Rapids, and Mundi McCarty, president and CEO of the Hoover Presidential Foundation.

“Traditionally, we have granted two projects per county where each taproom is located — Linn, Johnson, Polk, and we are adding Douglas County, NE as we launch our Omaha taproom this year,” Demet said. “The new microgrants could be adding a park bench, redoing a park, a community or cultural event, a neighborhood party, training, a wheelchair ramp, or fixing storm damage.”

"We're putting our money where our beer is and helping people create change — one person, one project at a time," Goetsch said. The first packaging will showcase the Solon community, with upcoming packages to show some of the microgrants and individuals supported.

So far, two microgrants have been approved. The first one was for Solon the Fire Department, which needed a new chain saw. The board’s review process occurs every 6 weeks.

The other grant underway is with the City of Iowa City Riverfront Crossings Park to make its playground fully accessible for various needs. The board and Big Grove staff participated March 31 to install new mulch, river rock, and new benches throughout the playground.

By Memorial Day this year, the foundation is projected to hit the first $20,000 goal from beer sales. It hopes to sell an additional 60,000 cases this year at a $1 donation per case, equating to $60,000 more for the microgrants. This includes 6-packs and 24-packs available in taprooms and retail stores wherever Big Grove beers are sold.

For applicants to meet the full criteria, Demet suggests clearly describing your project and budget. Providing only a sentence or two is not sufficient for acceptance.

“This is a culmination of all the work we do in the community, taking it one step further,” said Demet. “We are always trying to make our corner of the world better and accessible to everybody.