Matteson Farm Loses $200k in Federal Grants Due to Funding Freeze

Family-Run Farm Struggles to Recover from Bird Flu Outbreak

A family-run farm in south suburban Matteson, Kakadoodle Farm, has been dealt another blow after learning it will lose $220,000 in federal funding due to the Trump administration’s freeze on federal grants. The news comes on the heels of the farm’s entire flock being wiped out by the avian flu in January.

Grant Cancellation

The grant, part of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, was awaiting approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The farm’s owners, MariKate and Marty Thomas, were planning to use the funds to remodel an old pole barn and turn it into their new distribution center. The new center would be used to collect food from other local farmers and ship it to their customers.

Renovations Already Underway

The farm had already spent $80,000 on renovations, expecting to be reimbursed with the grant. While the renovations are not complete, Marty Thomas explained that they had done the bare minimum necessary to start operating out of the building. "It’s still very much a work in progress. We don’t have the funds at all to continue on the project right now," he said.

Two Other Grants Canceled

The Thomas’s also had two other pending grants that were canceled, leaving them with a significant financial blow.

Business Resilience

Marty Thomas expressed disappointment at the loss of funding but remained optimistic about the future of the farm. "I know that we’ll come out on the other side of this stronger than ever before. We’ve always been willing to use that support from the government when it was available, but our business isn’t dependent on it. We’ve always been very conscious not to do that because you can’t rely on it."

Community Support

The farm has received an "overwhelming" amount of community support, with a GoFundMe page raising over $46,500 as of Friday night. The farm remains under quarantine due to the avian flu outbreak, but its online market is still operational, filling orders for meat, produce, and eggs from other local farms.

Conclusion

The loss of federal funding is a significant setback for Kakadoodle Farm, but the Thomas’s are determined to continue operating and growing their business. With the support of their community and a strong determination to succeed, they are confident that they will emerge from this challenging period stronger than ever.

FAQs

• What is the total amount of federal funding lost by Kakadoodle Farm?
  $220,000
• What is the purpose of the grant program that was canceled?
  The grant program, part of the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, was designed to support local food systems and infrastructure development.
• When will the USDA lift the quarantine order on Kakadoodle Farm?
  June
• How much money has been raised on the farm’s GoFundMe page?
  Over $46,500 (as of Friday night)