Mount Pleasant’s Preppin Mama is headed to the final round of Iowa’s “Open 4 Business” grant competition, with a chance to win up to $25,000 to expand their growing homesteading business.
Founded by mother-daughter duo Dani Murphy and Tatum Kane, Preppin Mama began with a small booth inside Jefferson Street Antique Mall, offering freeze-dried treats and gourmet cookies. Now they’re renovating a storefront at 120 S. Main Street to launch their Homestead Hub — a full-scale space dedicated to self-sufficient living.
The new shop will feature a juice bar, local vendor goods, in-house grain milling, dry goods, and eventually a certified commercial kitchen. It will also offer educational workshops on gardening, canning, cooking, and other homesteading skills.
The “Open 4 Business” program, run by Main Street Iowa, allows each participating community to nominate one business annually. From dozens of entries, only five reach the finals. Finalists receive $5,000 and are eligible for up to $25,000 depending on the judges’ decision. The final pitch will take place this Monday, August 4th at 5:00 p.m. in Muscatine at the Pearl Button Factory.
Main Street Director, Lisa Oetken encourages other local businesses to reach out about similar opportunities.
For help or more information, Oetken can be reached at (319) 385-1629 or lisa@mpiowa.org. Her office is located on the second floor of the Union Block building at 111 W. Monroe Street.