Applications for Oklahoma Grassroots Business Accelerators now open

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau is accepting applications for its Oklahoma Grassroots Rural & Ag Business Accelerators program. The deadline to apply for the 2024 cohorts is March 1.

Oklahoma Grassroots is maintained by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau along with numerous partners at the state and national level, including the Small Business Development Center, OCAST, and Oklahoma i2E.

The program has two separate pipelines:

• The AgCelerate Oklahoma (formerly Cultivate Oklahoma) agricultural innovation pipeline focuses on innovations and technologies that have an on-farm or production agriculture application to diversify opportunities for farmers with a farmer-focused and farmer-led development program. 
• The Activate Oklahoma pipeline connects innovative rural Oklahoma businesses with resources and assistance provided by generous partner organizations. Activate Oklahoma is designed for any rural-based business with an innovation or product that will bring economic opportunities to rural Oklahoma.

Both tracks equip companies and innovators based in cities of 50,000 or less to advance their product with the help of the program’s partners. Those who compete the program may have the opportunity to compete for equity investment.

There is no cost to participate in the program, though participants will be responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses. Those who are accepted will participate in a multi-day hybrid “bootcamp”. The schedule of important dates is found on the Oklahoma Grassroots page.

To learn more about the program or to apply, please see the Oklahoma Farm Bureau website.

The Chickasha EDC does not administer the Oklahoma Grassroots program. If we can help you connect with this or any other resource for your business, contact us today.