Olaniyi Balogun was just 12 years old when he started farming in Nigeria. As an adult, he ran a 120-acre farm in his native country before moving to the United States. After settling in Brookeville, Maryland, Balogun started Dodo Farms with his wife, Tope Fajingbesi.
“The way we do it in Nigeria, that's the way I want to do it here,” he told his wife when they first started the business. That meant creating a farm with only Certified Naturally Grown produce using almost no pesticides or fertilizer. As the farms co-owner and accountant, Fajingbesi knew that way of doing things would cost more, but Balogun insisted everything would be healthier and tastier.
The result? A genuine love for the couple and their produce. Customers regularly buy up bushels of their of broccoli, berries, collard greens, tomatoes and more at area farmers markets. But this year, the duo worried about keeping the farm running and paying their own bills.
“When the pandemic started, I was so concerned because I know that lots of people are filing for unemployment. And I know without having money they cannot buy anything,” he said. “And the restaurants that buy stuff from us, they are not really functioning anymore. So we were really so concerned.”
Relief came from an unexpected place after a friend suggested they apply for a Lowe’s Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) grant.
Fajingbesi was stunned when Dodo Farms received $20,000 in relief.
“I'm trying not to get emotional about that because the grant for Lowe's came at the very right time. It was perfect,” she said. “Honestly, I think for me, us being black immigrant farmers is… perhaps one of the most significant things about getting that Lowe's grant, because businesses like ours don't get to share the spotlight.”
The Maryland farm is one of thousands of small businesses receiving one of these grants. Lowe’s has committed to giving away $55 million in grants to minority-owned and rural businesses across the country that are facing unprecedented challenges because of the pandemic. This commitment makes Lowe's the largest donor to LISC's Small Business Relief & Recovery Program and COVID Rapid Relief & Resiliency Fund.
"Lowe's has been committed to helping minority small business owners – the very backbone of our economy – rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic's devastating impact," said Lowe's President and CEO Marvin R. Ellison. "Helping people make their homes better extends beyond our walls and into our neighborhoods, communities and country. We're proud these grants will help minority- and women-led small businesses, many of which have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. This commitment is far more than a moment in time – it's a reflection of who we have been and will continue to be as a company."
“With the Lowe's grant we've been able to do so much, and I feel like I'm breathing easier with that grant that we got,” Fajingbesi said. “It's been a miracle, truly.”
