Adapt8 Receives Economic Development Grant
Adapt8, makers of greenhouse and agricultural products including Solexx, has been awarded an $50,000 economic development grant from Marion County in Oregon. Adapt8 will match the grant with an additional $200,000.
With this grant, Adapt8 plans to build a 2,500-square-foot commercial greenhouse, named the Kirtley Greenhouse after the grandparents of Adapt8’s founders, that will be home to product testing, research and development and a community outreach program.
The community outreach program will ultimately lead to food production and the creation of a community supported agriculture (CSA) program. Adapt8 will donate time to grow and produce food and the result will be the ability to donate 1,000 pounds of food a year to the Marion-Polk Food Share program.
“Adapt8 is a second-generation, family-owned company that welcomes the opportunity to give back and support the community by establishing a CSA program,” said Michelle Moore, president of Adapt8. “This grant program will give Adapt8 the opportunity to further our mission of changing the way the world grows food in a much more sustainable way.”
Adapt8 will also research how to reduce energy for commercial food and horticulture products by monitoring energy, light and water usage in the greenhouse. In addition, the greenhouse will be used to train sales and marketing staff about new and upcoming products as well as to refine and release patent pending technology.
Adapt8 will also use the grant to build six greenhouses to grow a variety of vegetables, fruits, and herbs and the company will teach three community classes about growing healthy food. The company will also enhance its location with landscaping and grounds improvements.
Lastly, the project will contribute to the growth of the company and the hiring of 10 employees from design engineers and salespeople to manufacturing support and facilities maintenance.
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