Cute as a Cupcake! Cupcakery & Bake Shop was one of seven grantees statewide to receive funding from Indiana Grown.
The Merrillville-based business received the funding to promote its products at trade shows nationwide. Indiana Grown, a state agricultural marketing initiative, awarded a total of $25,000 to the grantees for trade show exhibitions.
Trade shows offer exposure to customers and business-to-business clients. Booth fees, travel expenses and set up costs can be barriers to participation. The grant was designed to alleviate some of those costs to ensure Hoosier businesses are highlighted and Indiana-made products can be enjoyed nationally and internationally.
Through a competitive grant process, grants were awarded to businesses with commercially ready products who want to expand.
Launched in 2015, Cute as a Cupcake! sells cupcakes in a jar. The homemade, portable cupcakes come in a variety of flavors, have a long shelf life and can be shipped nationwide. Cute as a Cupcake! is a certified Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprise.
Other grantees include:
- Tell City Pretzels from Tell City
- Tulip Tree Creamery from Indianapolis
- Bee Great from Churubusco
- Smoking Goose from Indianapolis
- Market Square Popcorn from Indianapolis
- Old Major Market from Indianapolis
Cute as a Cupcake! and other grantees will be attending the National Restaurant Show in Chicago and the Snacks and Sweets Expo in Indianapolis.
The Indiana Grown program has more than 1,500 members who grow, raise, process or produce agriculture related products. The initiative educates consumers on the importance of buying Indiana Grown products and helps Indiana farmers and producers sell more products. Indiana Grown members and partners include farmers, producers, processors, retailers, grocers, hospitals and restaurants.
