$13 Million in Grants for Dairy Processing

$13 Million in Grants for Dairy Processing

Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) is working to build resilience and capacity in the region's dairy supply chain. One critical aspect of this work is investing in regional processing. To that end, NE-DBIC has two dairy processing grants that are open now:

Existing Dairy Processor Expansion Grant

$12 million in funding is available to help processing facilities located in the Northeast expand utilization of regionally sourced milk, with a focus on acquiring specialized equipment needed to increase processing capacity through volume expansion and existing product line expansion. Open to dairy processors in the Northeast, there are three tiers of funding available to accommodate processors of all scales.

The Request For Applications for this multi-tier grant is available now, and the first round of applications opens Thursday, March 16th. Please consider joining an informational webinar on March 15th at 11am.

Dairy Processing Research & Development Innovation Grant

$1 million in funding is available to conduct projects that support sustainability and innovation for Northeast dairy processors across a variety of scales. Open to licensed dairy processors and producer associations from the Northeast, grants will range from $75,000 to $250,000 with a 25% (cash or in-kind) match commitment required.

This Dairy Processing Research & Development Innovation Grant closes Thursday, March 23th at 2:00 pm ET.

Read the Full Press Release
Community Supported Agriculture Grants
Application Open for CSA Grants

The application is now open for the VAAFM's Community Supported Agriculture Grant.

This grant supports local farms and promotes nutrition, food access, and culinary education for children and families.

Eligible applicants are Vermont registered or licensed early childcare providers, after school programs, and 21st Century Child Learning Center Programs.

The max grant award is $1,000 and will reimburse 70-80% of a CSA or farm share.

Applications due April 7th

VT Produce Safety Improvement Grants

Produce Safety Improvement Grants

Are you looking to implement produce safety changes on your farm?

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets' Produce Safety Improvement Grants can be used to implement on-farm food safety practices that address Produce Safety Rule requirements or meet market demands.

Grants range from $5,000-$20,000 with no required match. The application opens Monday, March 13th!

See the Request for Applications to learn more and apply.

Applications due April 9th

Hillside Homestead WLEI Highlight

Working Lands Highlight: Hillside Homestead

Chet and Renee Baker love dairy farming with every cell in their body. Yet, the husband-and-wife team is barely hanging on.

The farm is often paid below the cost of production for conventional milk due to a national oversupply of milk. A transition to raw milk production for raw-milk cheeses for Jasper Hill will soon change that.

A Working Lands grant is making it possible for the Bakers to build a storage shed to hold dry sawdust and hay; required for raw milk production. The Bakers will be one of the first in Vermont to shift from pasteurized-milk cheese to raw-milk cheese production.

Read more on the WLEI Blog

USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Grant

$41 Million for
Wood Products Innovation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced it will offer $41 million through the 2023 Wood Innovations Grant and 2023 Community Wood Grant programs.

The grants should spark innovation and create new markets for wood products and renewable wood energy.

The application deadline for both grant programs is Thursday, March 23rd at 5pm.

Applications may be submitted via email to the Forest Service Regional Wood Innovations coordinator listed in the application instructions.

Read the full news release

View the VAAFM Grants Calendar
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Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
116 State St. Montpelier, VT 05620
https://agriculture.vermont.gov