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OmniGro - Annual Summary 2023

At OmniGro, we have been immensely blessed this year by each of your contributions, whether through time, expertise, finances, or your offerings of grace. We have never received more support, and our enthusiasm to fulfill our mission and make an impact in the marketplace grows daily. Our hearts and minds are full of gratitude as we look toward the new year, eager for what is to come.

Achievements

The most beautiful things in life are often the unexpected. When our founder, Andrea Wilson, discovered a USDA grant that seemed tailored for our company, our dreams felt much farther away than they do now. With passion and dedication, Andrea successfully pitched a scalable and achievable grant proposal to the Office of Urban Agriculture Innovative Productions. We are thrilled to have received funding and are now on the path to making an impact on Kauai Island.

Milestones

The USDA funding arrived in the last quarter of 2023, setting us up for success. We formed our official board, adopted our bylaws, and began shaping the path to implementation. We are now positioned to bring 15 years of research and development to market.

As of 2023, our programs are being developed with the community of Kauai at the heart of our business. We plan to host quarterly educational events to engage the community and positively impact food security on the island. Through partnerships with large organizations on Kauai, we will be able to reach underserved populations and provide a sustainable, renewable source of food for years to come.

We have begun forming contingent proposals with the Kauai Independent Food Bank to successfully launch and provide free produce to our community.

Financial Overview

In March 2023, Andrea reached out to her network to raise funds for the grant application we ultimately won! The USDA OUAIP granted us $247,500.00 to launch our pilot programs and kick-start our initiative. OmniGro will be donating our first gardens to partner organizations, ensuring a lasting impact on Kauai Island.

We have appointed a treasurer to our board, and all financial reports are approved monthly by the three other board members. We will publish our accounting reports on our website, www.omnigro.net, for full transparency.

Program Highlights

2023 was our founding year, so we have not yet begun implementing our programs or initiatives. OmniGro envisions a future where our name is well-known within the island community. Last year was a time to shape that vision, and while we have not yet had a community impact, we are actively negotiating key partnerships on Kauai. Signed contracts for implementation are expected in 2024.

Acknowledgments

OmniGro would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of our donors, volunteers, and supporters:

  • Kauai Independent Food Bank – For helping us reach our goal of feeding underserved populations on Kauai.

  • Andrea’s client base – For your patience and understanding regarding her time and workload.

  • Andy Melamed – For always supporting Kauai and working to help our community thrive.

  • USDA Office of Urban Agriculture Innovation Production – For supporting our vision to bring food to underserved populations.

  • The Board of Directors – We wouldn’t be where we are today without your wisdom and support. Thank you for backing the vision!

  • Larry Wilson – Without your dedication and years of research and development, we wouldn’t have the ability to carry this mission forward. Thank you for creating the system that will do so much for so many.

Challenges and Opportunities

Our initial challenge was founding the organization—putting all the logistical pieces together and ensuring we had a solid foundation from which to build. So far, our focus has been on product development. Much of our support comes from those who trust us blindly, believing we will deliver a system that does exactly what we promise. We are excited to present our product to everyone very soon!

Our system is a perfect fit for many underserved communities, and we are excited to see how far our reach can extend.

Looking Ahead

Vision for the Upcoming Year: We have a clear vision for the year ahead. By spring 2024, we plan to have our product manufactured and operational. Over the summer, we will gather data and compile metrics on its functionality. By fall 2024, we aim to have a harvest grand opening, showcasing fresh produce to the community and publicly announcing our system and mission to the State of Hawaii through major media outlets.

Once that is established, we will begin educational events to enable future farmers to purchase and install our systems, creating jobs and a continuous fresh food source for our community and beyond! There will be many ways for the community to get involved, including volunteering to check on the garden, harvest and distribute food, assist with educational seminars, and support fundraising events!

Call to Action

As we continue to meet our goals this year, we hope to attract the right people to help us bring our vision to fruition. We encourage continued support from donors, volunteers, and the community, and we will be sure to let everyone know how they can contribute or get involved as we grow!

Thank you, and here’s to one big dream coming true!

Aloha,
Andrea Wilson

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