2023 New York Local Dairy Promotion Grant Program

The local dairy promotion grant program supports activities that improve public perception of dairy farming and/or increase consumption of local dairy products in New York State. This is a competitive grant program and up to $250 may be requested. Grants are available for projects that will be completed by December 31, 2023.

• Application deadline: July 31, 2023
• Winners will be notified by August 10, 2023
• Checks to be distributed by September 1, 2023

What We Prioritize for Funding:

Events and programs that engage with youth (5-24 years old) or millennial consumers (25-40 years old)

We have identified several target audiences to focus on when building trust in dairy, including youth and millennial consumers. Youth are future consumers and building trust with this target audience will lead us into the future. Millennial consumers are making purchasing decisions for their family. Overall, we focus on events and programs that connect farmers with consumers in their community.

Projects could include:

• Events focused on farming, such as an Open Farm Day or Open House.
• School activities, such as farm tours for schools
• Social media campaigns, such as a video series with targeted social media advertisements focusing on cow care, sustainability, health, and other topics

Applications will be evaluated on the following:

• The project or program’s capacity to enhance knowledge of the dairy industry and/or the health and nutrition benefits of milk and dairy products.
• Must be a consumer-focused event or project aligned with American Dairy Association North East programming (Refuel with Chocolate Milk, farm tours, or school programs).
• The applicant must be a dairy farmer, dairy promotion committee member or dairy ambassador living in New York State.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

One grant per farm business or organization per year.

• Grant recipients are required to provide a brief written summary of the project or event – including photographs – no later than January 5, 2024.

Additional Grant Information

American Dairy Association North East has established guidelines for funding in addition to the requirements of the dairy promotion and research order issued by USDA.

Allow

• Consumer education
• Issues/crisis management to maintain public confidence
• Nutrition, product, food safety, and consumer research
• Generic product marketing
• Efforts to help increase human consumption of dairy
• Providing information and education to government or policy leaders upon request
• Equipment for milk dispensing and distribution (bulk milk dispensers, refrigeration, etc.)
• Dairy product purchases for sampling (must include a dairy education component). Dairy used must be purchased from a source (e.g., a grocery store) other than your farm. Grant dollars cannot be used to purchase your own product.

Prohibit

• Disparage other foods or agricultural products
• Branded advertising
• Activity to increase production – on farm or processing
• Programs that directly affect or target on-farm or retail pricing
• Promotion for non-human consumption of dairy
• Influencing government policy or action at any level
• Using funds for buildings and/or capital equipment
• Staff time
• Funding for events that have already occurred