River Roasters Coffee Company Expands in Meigs County

JobsOhio Inclusion Grant will help a beloved coffee company grow

Posted on May 3, 2021July 30, 2021

Company Name: River Roasters Coffee Company
Industry Sector: Food and Agribusiness
Company Profile: Candice and Larry Hess Jr. founded River Roasters Coffee Co. in 2018. The couple purchased and renovated a historic building and opened the café business, which has grown rapidly due to its popularity with area residents and visitors from other surrounding areas.
Company website: riverroasters.co

Project Summary:

JobsOhio program: JobsOhio Inclusion Grant (JOIG)
- About program: The JOIG provides financial support for eligible projects in designated distressed communities and/or for businesses owned by underrepresented populations across the state.
- Support amount: $50,000
Type of Project: Expansion
Location:
- Location: Pomeroy
- Region: Ohio
Jobs Committed: 4
Capital Investment: $171,536

About the project:
River Roasters Coffee Company will construct a new building, invest in a commercial roaster, and build a commercial kitchen for food production. The new operation will enable the company to supply business customers such as restaurants, groceries, and other coffee shops in multiple states.

Moving into production and wholesaling is a natural next step for the company and complements River Roasters Café, which will remain on Main Street in downtown Pomeroy and continue to serve retail customers.

CLICK HERE to read the full release.

Testimonial:

“We hope that this expansion allows us to supply fantastic specialty coffee, baked goods, and other River Roasters Coffee Co. staples to many surrounding areas. Our plan was always to roast our own specialty coffee, but we realized quickly that a café and roastery are two different business models and we needed to select one to start with. This new investment will allow us to separate the two and make them two very different but equally as important parts of our company and hire more great people to join our team.”

– Larry Hess Jr., co-owner, River Roasters Coffee Company

Collaborators:
JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, and Meigs County Community Improvement Corporation

Categories: Food & Agribusiness, Inclusion Grant