article A Perfect Storm: Bird Flu, Budget Cuts, and Finding a Way Forward

Last October, the State of Illinois notified us that we were awarded a $200,000 grant to remodel an old pole barn into a new distribution center, pending USDA approval. We were told that work done in the meantime would be reimbursed, so we moved forward with pouring concrete, installing insulation, and adding HVAC.

We were counting on that reimbursement for cash flow this year, but yesterday we learned that all funding for this grant has been suspended. We're not sure what that means exactly, but it’s likely we won’t see that money anytime soon—if at all. Two other pending grants we had were also canceled, and our steady revenue from moving food to food banks has halted.

Between bird flu and now this, it feels like we’re caught in a perfect storm. It’s scary to be in the middle of it. But here’s the good news: I’ve never felt more confident about Kakadoodle. These challenges have forced us to scale back and refocus on our core mission—delivering chemical-free food directly to homes. This is where we can make the biggest impact, and our attention is now laser-focused right where it belongs. It’s even sparking new ideas that I believe will take Kakadoodle to the next level.

I’ve been finding inspiration in Ryan Holiday’s book The Obstacle Is the Way. He writes, “Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.” That’s the mindset we’re embracing as we navigate this storm.