In July of 2021, Milo’s Whole World Gourmet announced plans to invest over $450,000 to upgrade its Athens County facility and purchase new machinery and production equipment. The investment was supported by a JobsOhio Inclusion Grant of $50,000.
Milo’s Whole World Gourmet is a creator and producer of specialty foods based in Athens County, Ohio. Founded in 2003 and still run today by Jonathan Milo Leal and his team, the company is growing strong. Milo’s WWG procures ingredients from the finest sources in the Great Lakes region and the United States and crafts all of its gourmet products in small batches, with clean and minimal ingredients, and with the quality, care, and ingenuity one would find in a true homemade product.
Milo’s WWG crafts the Brownwood Farms line of farm-stand quality sauces and condiments, including Famous Kream Mustard, BBQ Sauces, fruit salsas, ketchups, pasta sauces, salad dressings, and fruit spreads.
Prior to 2021, Milo’s WWG had expanded with the addition of co-packing services – making custom products for other food companies. The branded sales and the co-pack sales combined to propel the company to significant growth, reinforcing the need to consolidate its operations under one roof.
Since receiving the JobsOhio Inclusion Grant, Milo’s WWG was able to move to a new location in Nelsonville, Ohio. “We’re no longer using a shared workspace,” said owner Jonathan Milo Leal. “It was great for us in our early years but was never intended to be a permanent solution.”
“We’ve been able to increase production by increasing from two or three to four to five production days per week.”
With the aid of an SBA loan, the company was able to construct a brand-new production facility that is 4x larger than their previous space. The JobsOhio Inclusion Grant enabled Milo’s to purchase new equipment, including a new filling machine.
“We’ve been able to increase production by increasing from two or three to four to five production days per week,” said Leal. “We’ve been able to hire more employees from the local community due to increased production.”
The JobsOhio Inclusion Grant exists to provide financial support for eligible projects in designated distressed communities and/or for businesses owned by underrepresented populations across the state. Leal believes this grant is a valuable tool for businesses in Southeast Ohio.
“The JobsOhio Inclusion Grant program helps not just us but the local communities around us,” said Leal. “Because of this program, we buy products we need locally whenever possible. We hire local employees. We pay good wages and offer full benefits – and we’re located in the second poorest town in Ohio. The investment in our growth is an investment in our community.”
If you are a small business looking to expand your production, reach out to a member of the OhioSE team today!
Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) is the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern, and southeastern Ohio, providing economic development work and resources in 25 rural counties; they are the newest and geographically the largest of the six regions across the state. OhioSE partners closely with regional development districts, local economic development offices, state agencies, and other entities to expand, retain, and attract businesses in the counties they serve.
