Buchanan County gives grant to new shake business

The Buchanan County Economic Development Commission awarded its first Key Business Grant to Empowered Energy of Fairbank.

Empowered Energy of Fairbank is a new business that will sell nutritional shakes, tea drinks and coffee in the rear area of the VanDaele Insurance building in downtown Fairbank.

Empowered Energy, set to open Aug. 1, will be owned by Elsie VanDaele and co-managed with her father, Chad VanDaele.

The Key Business Grant is up to $10,000 to either attract or retain a business in a Buchanan County community.

The purpose of the grant, according to a commission news release Monday, is to facilitate the economic and social viability of county communities, offer financial assistance to a business that is vital to the economic and social well being of a community, and to diversify the community’s economic composition by encouraging unique or essential business start-ups and expansions.

The grant application is available at growbuchanan.com or by contacting Director Lisa Kremer at director@growbuchanan.com or call 319-334-7497.