MADISON, WIS. – The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance tabbed its next round of grants to support dairy companies in diversifying on-farm activity, creating value-added products, enhancing dairy byproducts and creating or enhancing export programs.

Reimbursement grants for as much as $100,000 each will be available to small- to medium-sized dairy farmers, manufacturers and processors within the DBIA’s 11-state service area: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

The DBIA is a partnership between the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) and the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA). Applications for the upcoming grants will be available online via the CDR website beginning on Feb. 20. 

A day after the applications go live for the Dairy Business Builder grants, DBIA staff will host an informational webinar regarding the grants at 11 a.m. CDT, on Feb. 21. Applications are due by April 13 and successful applicants will be notified by May 19.

“There’s no shortage of fresh, innovative ideas in the dairy industry,” said WCMA executive director John Umhoefer. “We’re pleased to offer meaningful financial support for dairy farmers and processors as they pursue new strategies to grow and strengthen their businesses.”

Added CDR director John Lucey: “These grants will support impactful investments in creative approaches to growing farmsteads and other dairy businesses.”

Funding from the US Department of Agriculture supports the DBIA, which was created in 2018 as part of the federal Farm Bill. To date, per DBIA, it has administered more than $7 million in grants to 88 dairy businesses.