We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 GLC Business Challenge. The board decided to support 2 businesses this year; Angie’s Sip and Taste in downtown Independence and the Doonan’s high density apple orchard in Elk Creek.
Angie’s serves as a local meeting place as well as a restaurant featuring fresh, in-house made food. She purchases local lamb and beef. Evelyn Moxley, you may remember her when she sold on the IFM online market as a teenager, will help this summer as their head baker. Angie’s will celebrate their 1 year anniversary on April 22. They’ll be featuring some past favorites this month. You can find more about Angie’s at her website: https://www.angiessipandtaste.com/ and her Facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559057907195
Bob and Mary Doonan have installed an orchard using the same high density, trellised system utilized at the River North Orchard. The goal is to grow cider apples for local cideries. The orchard was a stop on the Ag & Art Tour last year and will be again this year. They see this as a potential income producer for small landowners and are happy to share their experience. We’ll profile them in the next newsletter.
The Business Challenge will open again in January of 2026. GLC understands the difficulties of operating and starting a business in our community and wants to lend a helping hand in the form of a $1,500 grant.
The Business Challenge asks Grayson County businesses to fill out a simple grant application explaining how they will use the money, how the business will meet the needs of our local residents or support our economy and how their business will benefit from the grant. Preference will be given to businesses that will have the greatest positive impact in Grayson County, including hiring new employees, creating a positive environmental impact, or adding to the quality of life in the community.