HARTFORD — Forte Bank announced on Tuesday that The Grün Hexe Kitchen & Catering, 705 Village Green Way #102, West Bend, was awarded a $15,000 grant through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago’s (FHLBank Chicago) Community First Accelerate Grants for Small Business program.
“Grün Hexe Kitchen & Catering is a woman-owned and operated restaurant in the heart of Downtown West Bend that combines a passion for homemade, locally inspired food with Midwest hospitality,” a news release said. “The restaurant opened in 2022 and plans to use the grant money to strengthen community collaborations by investing in equipment to support local agriculture and food production. The grant will also allow Grün Hexe to enhance food production capabilities for more extensive catering and community events.”
“Our menu includes fresh homemade pasta, salads, soups, paninis, and desserts all prepared from scratch with a blend of nostalgic recipes and our own eclectic earthy vibe,” Grün Hexe Kitchen & Catering co-owner Audra Grueneberg added in the release.
According to the release, the expected increased revenue from the additions will create employment opportunities, positively impacting the local economy, which is the goal of FHLBank Chicago’s grant program.
“The Grün Hexe is an excellent start-up business Forte Bank funded over a year ago. They are growing rapidly and located in a market Forte Bank is expanding into,” Dan Chipman, assistant vice president and commercial banker at Forte Bank, said in the release. “This grant award will allow Grün Hexe to continue growing and making an impact in the local community; it has been a hit in the West Bend market.”
“We believe in the importance of creating community collaborations with our neighborhood businesses and following our own path of sustainability by partnering with local farmers and emphasizing whole, unprocessed foods,” Ashley Gregoriou, co-owner of Grün Hexe Kitchen & Catering, said in the release.
“Small businesses play an integral role in local communities in driving economic growth, from creating jobs to fostering community development,” FHLBank Chicago Senior Vice President and Community Investment Officer Katie Naftzger said in the release. “As a leader in the housing and community development space, FHLBank Chicago recognizes that affordable housing isn’t just about the homes themselves — it’s about ensuring entire communities have what they need to thrive, including economic opportunities for the residents and small businesses who call them home.”
Through the FHLBank Chicago’s grant program, eligible small businesses can be awarded up to $30,000 in grant funding to advance economic opportunity in the communities they serve.
Funds can be spent to purchase or improve property, purchase machinery, tools or equipment, or purchase inventory, materials or supplies, for workforce development training or for new or upgraded technology. Forte Bank, an independent bank based in Hartford, was the bank that sponsored the grant for Grün Hexe.
