By Blake Jackson
Applications are now being accepted for two direct-to-business grant opportunities offered by the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), with about $3 million in total funding available.
The programs are open to small- and medium-sized dairy farmers, processors, and manufacturers located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
The DBIA, a collaboration between the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR), administers both the Dairy Business Builder and Dairy Industry Impact grants.
The Dairy Business Builder program supports projects that diversify on-farm activities, develop value-added dairy products, or make better use of dairy byproducts. The Dairy Industry Impact program is aimed at initiatives that advance sustainability or expand exports, benefiting the wider dairy industry.
Applicants may submit proposals for both programs and can receive up to $100,000 from each. Due to increased costs for large equipment purchases, awards for such expenses may be as high as $150,000.
Application materials for both grants are available at dbia.wisc.edu, with submissions due by 5:00 p.m. (CT) on September 30. A recorded informational webinar from DBIA staff will be available online throughout the application window to guide applicants.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and established in the 2018 federal Farm Bill, the DBIA has awarded more than $20 million across over 250 grants to date.
Along with funding, the program provides technical support to dairy farmers and processors in participating states. More details, including summaries of previous projects, are available on the DBIA website.
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Categories: Wisconsin, Business, Livestock