Four companies in Delta County recently received economic development grants from the state. Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Tradegives out the grants under its Rural Economic Development Initiative Program.
The Amarna Company received $137,000.
Shelly Ferguson, Amarna's office manager, said the company has outgrown its current facility.
"The money will be used to build additional warehouse space and also we’ll be creating more office space as well," Ferguson said.
She said the company employs nine people in Delta County and will likely hire two more workers after the expansion. Amarna manufactures a water-based food release agent used by industrial food companies to prevent products from sticking to machines.
TK Holdings in Delta got a $50,000 grant to remodel a space into a shop and headquarters office.
Big B's Organic Juices and Hard Ciders in Hotchkiss got $30,000 to improve its manufacturing and distribution facility.
Diversified Innovative Products (DIP) Company received $25,000 to keep it in Delta and hire additional staff.
Governor John Hickenlooper is scheduled to visit Amarna and DIP on Saturday. Hickenlooper is also scheduled to make stops in Ridgway and Telluride.