Prepare Now to Apply for Dairy Business Builder Grants
Grow your business with a new round of Dairy Business Builder grants administered by the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), set to open on February 5. Small- to medium-sized dairy farmers, manufacturers, and processors in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin may apply for the funding, which is administered by the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) and Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA).
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.
“These grants have helped small businesses with the support they need to grow and diversify. This program helps strengthen our cheese and dairy industry by supporting more value-added products and diversification,” said John Lucey, CDR Director.
“Dairy Business Builder awards have helped kick-start growth for dairy farmers and processors all over the Midwest. These grants are ideal for any dairy business owner looking to expand and improve their business. We look forward to seeing more innovative funding proposals this spring,” added John Umhoefer, WCMA Executive Director.
Application materials for the Dairy Business Builder grants will be available online at cdr.wisc.edu/dbia. Prospective applicants are encouraged to join an informational webinar hosted by DBIA staff at 1:00 p.m. (CT) on Tuesday, February 7. The webinar will be recorded and accessible throughout the application period. Applications will be due by 5:00 p.m. (CT) on April 4. Successful applicants will be notified by late May.
The DBIA is supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was created in the 2018 federal Farm Bill. Since then, the DBIA has administered over $13 million to 129 dairy farms and businesses. The program also offers technical assistance to dairy farmers and processors in participating states.