The Science Nerds, Iron Skillet Coffee and Mandala Pies recently received grants through The Perdue School of Business Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery Mid-Atlantic business competition.
Iron Skillet Coffee Owner Jeff Smith pours coffee beans into an iron skillet for roasting. Smith was one of three Berlin business owners who won grants in the recent Shore Hatchery business competition.
File photo
By Charlene Sharpe, Associate Editor
A trio of Berlin businesses will be able to grow after winning grants through the Shore Hatchery business competition.
The Town of Berlin announced last week that three local businesses, The Science Nerds, Iron Skillet Coffee and Mandala Pies, received grants through The Perdue School of Business Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery Mid-Atlantic business competition.
“I am thrilled for these local Berlin businesses,” Ivy Wells, the town’s economic and community development director, said. “These grants help them to continue their success here in Berlin and inspire others to enter the Shore Hatchery competition next year.”
The Shore Hatchery is a 13-year $2.9 million initiative that began in 2013. The program assists entrepreneurs in creating new businesses and jobs in the region. The goal of the Shore Hatchery is to reward individuals for their entrepreneurial efforts in the creation and growth of businesses with the potential of positively impacting regional employment within three years.
The Science Nerds, which started as a way to give kids access to science projects during the pandemic, received $37,000 in this year’s competition. Founders Lindsey MacWha and Jenn Corron, who are both former science teachers at Worcester Prep in Berlin, want to continue to promote the wonder of science through hands-on activities. They’re already in 17 counties in Maryland and are hoping the business will continue to grow.
“We’re blessed it blossomed as quickly as it did,” Corron said.
She said they were one of 43 businesses that applied for Shore Hatchery funding. The Science Nerds were one of 15 proposals that were selected to make one-minute pitches to a panel of judges.
“We had high hopes,” Corron said. “It went well.”
Nevertheless, they were shocked to win and to get more than the $35,000 they requested. Going forward, they’ll be working with a business advisor through Salisbury University and will use the money to hire employees so that the business can expand.
“We’re super excited to spread our love of science,” Corron said.
Iron Skillet Coffee, known for its bright orange display at the Berlin Farmers Market, won $5,000 in the Shore Hatchery competition. Founder Jeff Smith prides himself on craft coffee batches roasted in a cast iron pot. He entered the competition because he’s been wanting to build a roaster.
“The process was very Shark Tank-esque,” Smith said. “We had to submit a business plan then we had one minute in front of the judges to pitch the idea.”
Smith was excited to be one of the six grant recipients from this year’s competition. He said the $5,000 he won will help him build a roaster.
“It’s going to partly automate the process and increase yield,” he said.
Berlin’s other Shore Hatchery winner was Mandala Pies. The artisan baking company, which was founded by veteran Caitlin LaComb after she became a stay-at-home mom, received $5,000. LaComb said the funding would help the bakery replace a refrigerator as well as expand marketing. She hopes to get the bakery’s van wrapped and purchase new banners for farmers markets.