MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is awarding up to $50,000 in Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation (AGRI) grants to eligible institutions to increase the use of Minnesota dairy in their nutrition programs.
The AGRI Milk Cooler Grant assists schools and early care and education organizations in purchasing milk coolers and related dairy equipment. Each school or organization may apply for up to $1,500.00 per milk cooler. A maximum of three proposals will be accepted for each organization or school district. Eligible expenses include the cost of the milk cooler and associated installation expenses.
“We had a great response to the first round of our AGRI Milk Cooler grants last fall which helped install 39 milk coolers across the state,” said MDA’s Assistant Commissioner Whitney Place. “This grant allows for investments in schools and early care and education organizations, provides nutritious dairy products to Minnesota’s children, and expands markets for the state’s dairy farmers.”
Applications for milk cooler grants must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. CDT on April 4, 2019. For more information and to apply, visit the MDA’s Milk Cooler Grant website.
About AGRI
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program supports the advancement of Minnesota’s agricultural and renewable energy industries. AGRI has made significant economic impacts by supporting jobs, increasing productivity, improving efficiency, and assisting in the development of agricultural products. For more information about all the grants available through this program, visit the MDA website www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/agri.