Applications are now open for the ACRE Advanced Entrepreneurship Program.
SCDA founded the Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship (ACRE) back in 2018. The program is here to invest and enhance South Carolina agribusiness with new ideas.
The competitive program is suited toward agribusinesses of all types that seek funding and mentorship in order to grow or expand their market.
You must be a South Carolina agribusiness with sales history to apply. The applications are out now and due March 7th.
Along with the application, you turn in a business plan.
We provide a detailed business plan guide to assist the applicants.
Applicants selected as finalists will be asked to pitch their business to a panel of judges, competing to be awarded up to $25,000 for their company or product.
Last year’s awardees have achieved success with the help of the ACRE program, including:
- Dragonfly Creek in Walterboro, SC, received funding that helped them invest in fencing to protect the gardens from outside wildlife, and to drill another well in order to expand irrigation.
- Growing Green Family Farms in Anderson, SC, received funding to assist with expanding the GAP certified pack shed and walk-in cooler, allowing them to expand the capacity and to collaborate and help other local farmers.
- Hull and Husk in Bluffton, SC was able to put their award toward packaging equipment, an air purification system, and a drum dryer for materials used in pellet production for their locally sourced peanut shell, pecan shell, white oak and coffee ground production.
- Oswego Flowers in Sumter, SC, used their award toward a larger greenhouse to extend the growing season of cut flowers to year-round production, which in turn allowed a shift in to wholesale production for cut flowers.
- …and many others.
Pitch Day is in Columbia on May 14th.
Visit ACRE-SC.com for an application or contact ACRE’s Executive Director, Kyle Player, with any questions. Kyle’s email is kplayer@scda.sc.gov.