Local farming company gets $3.9M grant

MILAN — A local business stands to benefit from a multimillion-dollar grant secured by a local congresswoman. Growers Mineral in Erie County received a $3.9 million U.S. Department of Agricutlure Rural Development Award. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, announced the award this past week. The company, based in Milan, is a family-owned business that produces, sells and delivers farming products like growers mineral solution — a nontoxic liquid fertilizer — soil conditioner and nutritional additives. The company distributes to 27 U.S. states and portions of Canada. This grant is through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program and will be used to help pay for costs associated with the construction of a new facility, new equipment and climate-smart equipment. "I am thrilled to see these dollars coming back home to help farmers in Erie County and across northwest Ohio," Kaptur said. "I often say what America makes and grows, makes and grows America, and this award will help us to continue to make and grow more in Erie County, and across Ohio for generations to come." This new facility is projected to have a 279% increase in fertilizer production by 2027, with enough to provide 4,000 end-user farmers with 832,000 acres of product. "All of us at Growers Mineral Corp., are thrilled to be one of the recipients of the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program grant," Growers Mineral president Asa Bobel said. "The funds will go toward the construction of a brand new facility, located in Milan." The project's total cost is $8.6 million with $4.6 million being provided by Growers Mineral and the remaining funds supplied by this grant award. "We are all super excited," Bobel said. "This just kind of solidifies us going forward into our next 70 years of business. "We've been in business for 70 years. We are a third-generation, family-owned company," Bobel said. "This is huge for us, and a great opportunity to continue to serve farmers for many more years to come."