July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Fennig asks funding for microchips
Portland EDIT Advisory Board
Some day soon, a new wave of technology could be developed in downtown Portland.
Rural Bryant resident Steve Fennig, of Fennig Family Farms, is asking for $150,000 in economic development income tax (EDIT) funds to kick off a venture called MyFarms that would program computer microchips for precision farming.
The chips, using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, would communicate information to farm equipment about levels of fertilizer and seed to use in areas of the fields, depending on soil conditions and elevations.
Fennig, who grows corn and soybeans southeast of Bryant, hopes to get his business up and running in six months to a year. He plans to operate the business out of the Weiler building, located in downtown Portland. Fennig also operates Holly Pines, a Christmas tree/holiday shop.
On Monday, he asked the Portland EDIT Advisory Committee for $75,000 to use as matching funds for federal and state grants. He also plans to ask Jay County to contribute an additional $75,000 in EDIT funds.
Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley said a similar EDIT grant was given to Buffalo Wings and Rings last year for infrastructure.
That grant amount was $120,000.
Total start-up costs for the MyFarms business could be $2.5 to $3 million. The company could employ 15 to 20, with an average wage of about $50,000.
City EDIT Advisory Committee members voted to grant Fennig $25,000 a year for the next three years, with the stipulation that he receives other grants and uses the money within the next nine months.
The Portland City Council would have to approve the EDIT funds grant. Although the request was on the council's agenda Monday, Bradley said he decided to scrap the item from the agenda.
He said he thought it would be best to make sure Fennig is going to get funding from other sources before he takes the request to Portland City Council for final approval. Bradley said he expects the council to review the request before the deadline set by the committee.
"It's not a done deal yet," Bradley said Monday.
During the EDIT advisory meeting, Bradley also said he plans to meet with the Jay County EDIT Advisory Committee on Thursday to ask for an additional $75,000 for the project. The meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Community Resource Center, Portland.
"It could bring agri-business grads back here," Bradley said.
"It's got potential to bring back college grads and high-paying jobs," said EDIT committee member Kent McClung.[[In-content Ad]]
Rural Bryant resident Steve Fennig, of Fennig Family Farms, is asking for $150,000 in economic development income tax (EDIT) funds to kick off a venture called MyFarms that would program computer microchips for precision farming.
The chips, using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, would communicate information to farm equipment about levels of fertilizer and seed to use in areas of the fields, depending on soil conditions and elevations.
Fennig, who grows corn and soybeans southeast of Bryant, hopes to get his business up and running in six months to a year. He plans to operate the business out of the Weiler building, located in downtown Portland. Fennig also operates Holly Pines, a Christmas tree/holiday shop.
On Monday, he asked the Portland EDIT Advisory Committee for $75,000 to use as matching funds for federal and state grants. He also plans to ask Jay County to contribute an additional $75,000 in EDIT funds.
Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley said a similar EDIT grant was given to Buffalo Wings and Rings last year for infrastructure.
That grant amount was $120,000.
Total start-up costs for the MyFarms business could be $2.5 to $3 million. The company could employ 15 to 20, with an average wage of about $50,000.
City EDIT Advisory Committee members voted to grant Fennig $25,000 a year for the next three years, with the stipulation that he receives other grants and uses the money within the next nine months.
The Portland City Council would have to approve the EDIT funds grant. Although the request was on the council's agenda Monday, Bradley said he decided to scrap the item from the agenda.
He said he thought it would be best to make sure Fennig is going to get funding from other sources before he takes the request to Portland City Council for final approval. Bradley said he expects the council to review the request before the deadline set by the committee.
"It's not a done deal yet," Bradley said Monday.
During the EDIT advisory meeting, Bradley also said he plans to meet with the Jay County EDIT Advisory Committee on Thursday to ask for an additional $75,000 for the project. The meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Community Resource Center, Portland.
"It could bring agri-business grads back here," Bradley said.
"It's got potential to bring back college grads and high-paying jobs," said EDIT committee member Kent McClung.[[In-content Ad]]
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