Dairy Business Innovation Alliance Announces Opening of Grant Period on August 19

The organization funnels up to 4M into the midwestern dairy industry, announcing funding through these central programs.

Hey Midwestern dairy businesses, now’s the time to prepare to apply for two direct-to-business grant programs, up to $4 million! These grants are offered by the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), with an opening date of August 19. The Dairy Business Builder and Dairy Industry Impact grant programs are administered by DBIA, a partnership between Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR).

This grant funding is available to small- to medium-sized dairy farmers, manufacturers, and processors. The program also offers technical assistance, education, and mentorship to dairy farmers and processors. Here is a list of the eligible states:

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin

A press release explained a bit of the history of this grant, including the funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support the DBIA, and its creation in the 2018 federal Farm Bill. Since then, the DBIA has awarded 213 grants totaling more than $16.5 million to dairy businesses in its 11-state service region.

Further notes on eligibility include, the ability for applicants to apply to both grant programs and are eligible to receive awards of up to $100,000 from each offering. Applicants pursuing projects related to exports or sustainability can apply for the $1 million Dairy Industry Impact grant program. Finally, applicants interested in diversifying on-farm activity, creating value-added products, or enhancing dairy byproducts are eligible to apply for the $3 million Dairy Business Builder program.

For details on applying, click here.