Hoosier Heartland State Bank is pleased to announce that Hidden Hollow Honey Co. has received a $20,000 Elevate Small Business Grant through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis.
“At HHSB, we believe strong small businesses help build strong communities,” said Brad Monts, HHSB President and CEO. “Through our partnership with FHLBank Indianapolis, we’re helping local entrepreneurs invest in their businesses, pursue new opportunities, and continue making a difference in the communities they serve. We’re grateful to be a part of an initiative that supports the people and businesses that make our communities special.”
Founded in 2022 by Aaron Townsend, Gabe Wright, Mark Townsend and Jason Farrell, Hidden Hollow Honey Co. is a beekeeping business based in Waynetown, Indiana. The business combines honey production and sales with a retail store, beekeeping supplies, and free monthly classes for people interested in learning about beekeeping. Its team manages 240 honeybee colonies, sells honey to customers and 15 local retailers, and ships beekeeping supplies to customers across the country. The business grew from Aaron’s lifelong interest in beekeeping, which began when he kept bees with his father in the 1980s. After more than 25 years of operation an HVAC business, Aaron returned to beekeeping, and in March 2022 the four partners purchased RJ Honey.
The Elevate Small Business Grant will help Hidden Hollow Honey Co. modernize its honey processing and packaging operations with equipment designed to recover more honey, turn wax cappings into beeswax products, reduce manual filtering and speed up bottling. These improvements are expected to reduce waste and labor while increasing efficiency and supporting future growth. Grant funds will also help the business improve its visibility along U.S. Highway 136 with two new roadside sign panels.
“We’re incredibly grateful to receive this grant and excited about what it means for the future of Hidden Hollow Honey,” said co-owner Aaron Townsend. “We’ve worked hard to grow our business while serving our local community and customers across the country, and this support will help us continue building on that foundation. We’re excited for what’s ahead and thankful for the opportunity to keep growing.”
Elevate Small Business Grants are funded through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, a regional wholesale bank, to its member financial institutions. Member institutions apply for the grant on behalf of small businesses and eligible applicants may receive $20,000 to support their growth and development. Eligible businesses must be headquartered in Indiana or Michigan, have operated continuously for at least one year, and earn less than $1 million in annual gross revenue. In 2026, FHLBank Indianapolis has committed more than $2M for the Elevate program.
For more information about Elevate Small Business Grants, including the full list of 2026 recipients, visit www.fhlbi.com/elevate or contact HHSB at info@myhhsb.com.
