News! from New Growth and New Growth Women's Business Center (WBC)

Choose just New Growth Business news, Transit news, or Unsubscribe, click "Update Profile" below.

What's in the News today:

Dogs to Dreams: A Clinton Business That's Giving Back
Child Care is Community Care - Here's How We're Helping
Local Banks + New Growth = Stronger Small Businesses
Grants for Farm & Food Businesses
New Growth is Here for You - Let's Connect!

A Clinton Business with a Bigger Mission

Rebecca Price turned her love of dogs into Dalmatia BnB, a thriving boarding and training business in Clinton, Missouri. But her impact doesn’t stop there.

With one-on-one coaching and a microloan from New Growth, she gained the tools and confidence to build a business that gives back—training therapy dogs, supporting shelter pets, offering free pet care for families in crisis, and launching a nonprofit to serve veterans.

Her story shows how rural business success can spark something much bigger: community development! When one person thrives, the whole community grows stronger. New Growth is here to help make that kind of success easier to reach.

Child Care: Local Economic Impact

Who pays the cost when west central Missouri families are unable to find quality child care? A new Missouri study puts the cost at $1.14 billion annually.

A new west central Missouri team of community leaders is paying attention - and taking action!

Classes to Strengthen Child Care Businesses

Running a successful child care business is about more than offering quality care—it’s about building a strong foundation, upholding high professional standards, and managing your finances with confidence.

That’s why University of Missouri Extension is offering a free virtual training series this summer tailored specifically for child care providers, directors, and early childhood educators.

Learn More

Area Bankers & Lenders - Let's connect!

The New Growth's Women's Business Center is here to support both you and your customers with

· credit-building services

· microloans

· business planning

· and more!

Local bankers are key partners for community businesses. Our services help individuals and entrepreneurs prepare for working with their local bank and traditional lending.

Recently in El Dorado Springs, Appleton City, and Clinton (pictured) we visited with area bankers. Want us to stop by your town next? Let’s connect!

Email: Info@NewGrowthMo.org

Farm and Food Business Grant Opportunities

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP)—but don’t wait! Apply by July 2, 2025.

This grant supports projects that enhance the production, marketing, and competitiveness of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, nursery crops, and more. Farmers, nonprofits, schools, and other groups working in specialty crops are encouraged to apply! https://agriculture.mo.gov/abd/financial/specialtycrop.php

Applications are open for three USDA programs authorized and secured by mandatory Farm Bill funding. Apply by June 27, 2025.

USDA’s Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) provides grants to help local and regional food entities develop, coordinate, and expand producer to consumer marketing, local and regional food markets, and local food enterprises. https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lamp

The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) supports producer to consumer markets, such as farmers markets, roadside stands, agritourism activities and community-supported agriculture. https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/fmpp
The Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) supports local and regional food businesses that facilitate indirect producer to consumer marketing (such as food hubs, food processing, and storage). https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lfpp
The Regional Food System Partnerships Program (RFSP) supports partnerships that connect public and private resources to plan and develop local or regional food systems. https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsp

Check out informational webinars for these LAMP grants. https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/webinars

Consider signing up to be a grant reviewer. Stipends available at $200 per proposal reviewed. More here: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/peer-review

Contact us at the Heartland Center if you would like to explore connecting with others or getting input on your proposal. Email us at hrfbc@newgrowthmo.org.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture is opening Round 2 of Simplified Equipment-Only Grants under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program. Apply by July 18, 2025.

Grants of $10,000–$50,000 are available for equipment purchases that support processing, storage, and distribution of non-meat local food products like dairy, grains, specialty crops, and more. No match required!

https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/public-resources/grants-cost-share-programs/resilient-food-systems-infrastructure-program

Connect with New Growth

Business owners and farmers - let's connect!

In person at Warsaw, Lamar, or our regular offices in El Dorado Springs, Appleton City, or Bolivar - the Women's Business Center would happy to plan a chat with you in person or over the phone or Zoom. See our planned Office Hours on our events page or reach out to: wbcinfo@newgrowthmo.org

Farmers - both beginners and experienced - are welcome to join the monthly Farmer to Farmer Meetings! Some meetings are in person and some meetings are virtual. But each month brings relevant information for both the farm and business of operating a farm! This where you'll find the community to support the work you do.

To join the next Farmer to Farmer meeting, reach out to Bridget Luff at: bluff@wcmcaa.org

See Events