[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 153 (Thursday, September 22, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4965-S4966]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING MYLKE COFFEE COMPANY

 Mr. PAUL. Madam President, as ranking member of the Senate 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize 
an

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outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American 
entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize 
Mylke Coffee Company of Island, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the 
Week.
  Shane Case had a vision for his home in Western Kentucky. Seeing that 
there was no source of freshly roasted coffee beans anywhere near his 
region of the State, he decided to fulfill this need, and thus in 2017, 
Mylke opened its doors. Shane's innovative vision led Mylke to become 
the first and only craft commercial coffee-roaster located within 100 
miles of his hometown, and their popularity has continued to grow since 
its founding. Many people ask about the unique nature of the company's 
name. The name boils down to a sort of fusion between old and new: old 
in the way of Old English, a nod to Shane's Scottish heritage, and new, 
in the newfound rise and popularity of mylk, which typically refers to 
milk derived from beans, nuts, or plants rather than from an animal. 
Mylk has undoubtedly been on the rise in recent years as consumers have 
increasingly turned to dairy-free options as they search for quality 
coffee. Shane understood this shift in consumer demand and has 
responded accordingly with his forward-thinking business.
  When Shane first opened his business, his intention was to provide 
the western half of the Bluegrass State with high-quality coffee beans 
and other coffee products from a source more local than the distant 
Louisville or Nashville, TN. However, as his company and customer base 
grew, he set his sights on entering into new markets beyond those of 
his native Western Kentucky. Since its founding in 2017, Mylke has 
consistently managed to break into new markets as far away as Atlanta 
and Indianapolis. Mylke now provides freshly roasted coffee to more 
than 20 independently owned coffee shops and restaurants. Not only has 
Shane kept an eye on the potential of emerging markets, he readily 
adapted to a newfound customer landscape when the COVID-19 pandemic 
wreaked havoc on the coffee shop and restaurant industries. Faced with 
government mandates forcing him to close his doors, Shane pivoted and 
started offering alternative products to the typical coffee that is 
brewed onsite, instead providing ready-to-drink options, including the 
very popular Sweet Mylke Cold Brew or Mylke Kups that customers can use 
at home in their Keurig Coffee Machine.
  Throughout his venture into founding his own enterprise, Shane has 
maintained a keen eye for business and an awareness of the needs of his 
larger community. As the company has grown, Mylke has partnered with 
several community organizations and charities that give back to the 
community. The company has helped facilitate numerous fundraisers for 
the McLean County High School Moot Court, an organization that exposes 
students to constitutional law and the work of advocates in the U.S. 
Supreme Court. Shane understands the importance of investing in the 
young minds of his community and that such investments, especially when 
pared with a focus on civic duty, are to the wide benefit not only for 
the youth involved but for the community at large. Moreover, Mylke has 
assisted in fundraising efforts for the Green River Area Down Syndrome 
Association--GRADSA--and continues to partner with them whenever 
possible.
  Shane's charitable nature extends far beyond than what Mylke is able 
to do at a local level. He also pays mind to source his coffee beans 
from suppliers that share in his desire to give back to the community. 
Mylke has partnered with Legacy Farms Coffee since its founding, a 
coffee bean supplier working out of Honduras. Using proceeds earned 
through their coffee crops, Legacy Farms Coffee provides numerous 
services to the surrounding community, including livestock donations to 
hungry families, donations of books and supplies to local schools, and 
providing microloans to growing small businesses. This partnership, as 
well as those in his native Kentucky, have ensured that every pound of 
Mylke coffee sold benefits both the local and global community.
  Mylke has seen unprecedented growth in 2022, with the christening of 
the Mylke Coffee Shop food truck, an asset that allows the company to 
grow their customer base and reach newfound customers. Moreover, the 
company has acquired a new commercial coffee roaster which will 
increase production capacity by 2,000 percent, to satisfy all those 
craving the high-quality coffee Mylke is known for. Given his track 
record for entrepreneurial wisdom it is not hard to believe that Mr. 
Shane Case will continue to grow Mylke at the rate he has already seen. 
I want to wish congratulations to Mr. Case and the entire team at Mylke 
Coffee Company. I look forward to watching their continued growth and 
success in Kentucky.

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