A new round of Dairy Business Builder grants is coming to assist small to medium-sized dairy farmers and processors.
The reimbursement grants of up to $100,000 each aim to support recipients in diversifying on-farm activity, creating value-added products, enhancing dairy byproducts, and creating or enhancing dairy export programs.
Farmers, manufacturers, and processors in 11 states including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Kansas, and Wisconsin. The funding is administered by the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance, which is a partnership between the Center for Dairy Research and the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association.
Application materials for the Dairy Business Builder grants will be made available September 19, 2022 online at cdr.wisc.edu/dbia. Prospective applicants will benefit from an informational webinar hosted by DBIA staff, to be held in September. Applications will be due by 5:00 p.m. (CT) on November 10, 2022, and successful applicants will be notified by December 15, 2022.
Also, the Dairy Industry Impact grant program, targeted to help dairy businesses develop an idea or tackle a challenge with the potential to advance the dairy industry as a whole, is taking grant applications now. Reimbursable grants of up to $250,000 each will be awarded through a competitive review process. Grant recipients will be required to share results of their project.
Applications are available on the DBIA website – https://www.cdr.wisc.edu/dbia. Applicants must be located in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin. Initial abstracts will be due August 31, 2022. Successful applicants will be invited to submit full proposals by November 3, 2022. Companies interested in applying in July should contact Vic Grassman at [email protected] or Tom Guerin at [email protected].
The DBIA is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Including the awards listed above, since its inception as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, the DBIA has administered approximately $3.6 million in grants to 79 dairy businesses in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The program also offers technical assistance and education to dairy farmers and processors in the region.