Dairy Business Innovation Alliance
A new round of Dairy Business Builder grants administered by the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA) opened on February 20, 2023 for small- to medium-sized dairy farmers, manufacturers, and processors in 11 Midwestern states. Businesses in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin may apply for the funding. 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. Application materials for the Dairy Business Builder grants are available online at dbia.wisc.edu. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. (CT) on April 13. Successful applicants will be notified by May 19.
DBIA Updates
$2.9M Awarded in Latest Round of Dairy Business Builder Grants
In the latest round of Dairy Business Builder grants, $2.9 million was awarded to 28 Midwestern dairy businesses. More than half of the recipients are farmstead businesses, 64 percent are receiving grant funds for the first time, and each of the 11 DBIA states had at least one awardee.
The awardees are: Actus Nutrition, Amish Country Dairy, BigGoat Farm, Calanna Specialty Foods, Cinnamon Ridge, Country Creamery Farm, Decatur Dairy, De Dames Ice Cream, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Farm Life Creamery, Flint Hills Pints, Florence Creamery, Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy, Hardeman Cheese, Hidden Springs Creamery, Imporium Creamery, Lamers Dairy, Ludwig Dairy, Matlock Creamery, Milkhaus Dairy, Noga Foods, Pleasant View Dairy, Prairie Creek Creamery, Roelli Cheese Company, Ron’s Wisconsin Cheese, Sanilac Creamery, Sirocco Ridge Farmstead Creamery, and Wiskerchen Cheese.
Read the press release and learn more about the awardees. The next grant cycle will open in August, stay tuned for more details!
Goat & Sheep Grants Awarded
In May, grants were awarded to small to medium size goat and sheep dairy processors totaling over $46,000. These grants will be used to support educational training, product development trials, and trade show participation. Read the press release.