Local entrepreneur, cook, baker, author, and now, award-winner. These are just some of the things that Anne Grimes can be called after winning the City of Greenville and Greenville Utilities Commission’s (GUC) 2014 Standing on the Shoulders of Giants award. The award is the highest honor from the City and GUC’s Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) Program. 

Mrs. Anne Grimes of Harvest Time Foods, Inc., most widely known for her product, Anne’s Dumplings, is the founder of the food products powerhouse that she started in a converted carport in Greenville and now distributes across the country.  Her company has been recognized by several entities including the national Small Business Administration (SBA) for its leadership, entrepreneurial achievement, and philanthropy. Her philanthropic activities have included feeding programs in the aftermath of Hurricanes Dennis and Floyd, donations to hurricane victims in Honduras, and a host of meal services in the local community. 

Mrs. Grimes served business owners from Greenville loads of southern charm, motherly wit and wisdom, along with heaping helpings of sage advice well-seasoned with care and concern during the meet and greet event held during MED Week at GK Café and Catering.  Advising businesses on how to take a company from start-up through growth to expansion, Mrs. Grimes gave insight on valuable tools and resources and even offered her time to anyone who needed additional help. 

The Standing on the Shoulders of Giants award is given annually to an individual, organization, or group that has blazed the trail for minority and women entrepreneurs in Greenville.  Award recipients must also have helped advance MWBE growth by providing mentorship and/or advocacy, demonstrating a commitment to increasing the economic impact of the minority and women business community.

Past award winners have included trailblazing entrepreneur, advocate, and community leader Denison “D.D. ” Garrett and Rodney Bullock, owner of Altitude Academy of Barbering and faculty member at Pitt Community College. 

The Giants award is given during Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week, a celebration begun by the City and GUC to recognize outstanding achievements of the minority and women business enterprise community.  This year’s award was presented at the Substantial Awards hosted by Substantial Magazine and NC Civil on September 27, 2014.

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