In just two years, Renea McAllister has taken her dream of restarting her beekeeping business and successfully launched a honeybee farm that provides locally harvested, raw, and unfiltered Matanuska-Susitna Valley honey.
Renea worked with the Alaska Small Business Development Center (Alaska SBDC) in Wasilla to create a business plan and financials needed to pursue a grant application that she was eligible for.
Business Advisor and Assistant State Director, Julie Nolen, shared about the process, “I recently helped Renae obtain a grant to re-start her beekeeping business. Last fall, her hives were all destroyed by a bear attack. After obtaining her grant, she was able to restart her bee operation and harvest 500 pounds this summer. She also used some of the grant funds to purchase freeze-drying machines. She has been freeze-drying fireweed and berries which are then infused into the honey.”
Renea’s perseverance has paid off in the face of adversity and she isn’t slowing down. This summer, she purchased the assets of another company that produces and sells beard styling products. Next, she plans to start manufacturing the products using Grandma’s Alaskan Honey bee wax and honey in the styling products!
Keep up with Grandma’s Alaskan Honey on Facebook and connect with Renea on her products via email.
