Simpler Grants.gov #USDA-AMS-TM-DBI-G-26-0011

USDA AMS Dairy Business Innovation Initiative grant funding

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is offering Dairy Business Innovation Initiative grant funding to four existing initiatives. - Government buyer: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). - Eligible initiatives: California State University Fresno Foundation; University of Tennessee; Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; and University of Wisconsin. - Funding: Approximately $12.65 million across four awards: $2.3 million for California State University Fresno Foundation and $3.45 million for each of the other three initiatives. - Program activities: Provide dairy businesses with technical assistance and competitive subawards to diversify dairy product markets, develop higher-value products, improve farmer income through processing and marketing innovation, and support regional milk production. - Subawards: At least 50% of federal funds must be allocated to subawards; an individual dairy-business subaward may not exceed $500,000. - Cost share: A non-federal contribution equal to 25% of the requested federal funds is required. - Equipment and infrastructure: These proposals are encouraged. Eligible activities may include special-purpose dairy equipment and upgrades or modernization of existing facilities; new construction and general-purpose equipment are not allowable. - Scope: Applications are limited to the four existing initiatives named above.

Description

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service requests FY 2026 applications from four existing Dairy Business Innovation initiatives: the California State University Fresno Foundation, the University of Tennessee, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and the University of Wisconsin. The program supports diversifying dairy product markets, developing higher-value uses for dairy products, promoting business development and farmer income through processing and marketing innovation, and encouraging regional milk production. Approximately $12.65 million is available, with expected awards to the four existing initiatives and funding amounts ranging from $2.3 million to $3.45 million. A 25% cost share of the federal funds requested is required, and applications are due December 1, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

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