Nick’s Family Grocery in Winthrop Awarded Grant

A Winthrop business has been awarded a grant.

Nick’s Family Grocery received the Iowa BOOST for Business Innovation – Rural Grocery Store Grant – it’s a competitive grant program from the Center for Rural Revitalization, a division of  the Iowa Economic Development Authority, which is aimed at supporting and sustaining essential grocery services in rural Iowa. 

The application was written and submitted by Buchanan County Economic Development, whose ongoing support for small-town businesses helped secure funding for this critical community resource.

Nick’s Family Grocery has been a vital source of fresh food and community connection since it was re-established under new ownership by Nick Dennie and Nick Wilgenbusch. They purchased the store to prevent the loss of the town’s only grocery option — preserving both food access and a gathering place in Winthrop.

With the help of the Rural Grocery Store Boost Grant, Nick’s Family Grocery will now expand its hot meal offerings, introduce take-and-bake meal options, and launch a new meal delivery service to reach elderly residents, busy families, and rural households potentially up to five miles outside Winthrop — and eventually maybe further to nearby towns.

“This grant allows us to do more than just sell groceries — it lets us serve people in a way that’s truly meaningful,” said Dennie and Wilgenbusch, co-owners of Nick’s Family Grocery. “Whether it’s a hot, homemade meal delivered to an elderly neighbor or a take-and-bake dinner ready for a busy parent to pop in the oven, we’re meeting people where they are and helping them stay healthy and independent.”

The grant funds will be used to upgrade essential kitchen equipment, including two new convection ovens, a commercial broaster, and insulated food pan carriers to support safe, hot deliveries. These investments will also allow the store to enhance its in-store offerings.

“Buchanan County Economic Development was happy to assist with this grant application for a vital local business that serves our rural communities,” said Lisa Kremer, Executive Director of BCEDC. “Sustaining grocery stores in rural areas is not just about food — it’s about maintaining community, improving access to healthy options, and supporting local economies. Nicks’s Family Grocery is doing exactly that through innovation, diversification, and dedication to the people they serve.”

photo courtesy of Buchanan County Economic Development