Apply Now for $1.7 Million in Dairy Business Innovation Alliance Grants

Midwestern dairy businesses can apply now for a total of $1.7 million in Dairy Business Builder grants offered by the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), a partnership between the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR). The funding is available to small- to medium-sized dairy farmers, manufacturers, and processors in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. 

Applicants interested in diversifying on-farm activity, creating value-added products, or enhancing dairy byproducts are eligible to apply for the Dairy Business Builder program. Businesses pursuing projects with a potential impact on the broader industry can apply for the Dairy Industry Impact grant program. Applicants may apply to both grant programs and are eligible to receive awards of up to $100,000 from each offering. For large equipment expenditures, awards of up to $150,000 may be made. 

Application materials are available online now at dbia.wisc.edu. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. (CT) on September 30. Prospective applicants are encouraged to sign up online to view a short “Helpful Hints” video with useful information, step-by-step application instructions, and tips for a strong grant proposal. 

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 awarded more than $26 million across nearly 320 grants to Midwestern dairy farms and businesses. The program also offers technical assistance to dairy farmers and processors in participating states. More information, including past project summaries and program impact, is available online at dbia.wisc.edu.