Dairy Industry Impact

Questions about DBIA Grants?

Email DBIA Program Coordinator, Tanya Carney, at tcarney@cdr.wisc.edu.

Next cycle: Fall 2026

Application Opens: Monday, August 3rd

Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 30th

Award Notifications: November 2026

Register to view the Grant Helpful Hints Video

Industry Impact Topics: Fall 2026

This grant program will welcome applications in topic areas that have the potential to positively impact the dairy industry as a whole. In past grant cycles, this has included using the funds to help get Midwest dairy products into new target markets, strategic resource management, and innovative product and processing updates.

Examples of eligible projects include:

Please contact DBIA staff to discuss potential Dairy Industry Impact Grant project proposals before beginning an application.

Award Benefits and Terms

Reimbursement grants of up to $100,000 will be made.
Successful applicants must accept the award in writing as well as submit their Employer Identification Number (EIN) for verification.
Grant recipients will be reimbursed in full based on eligible expenses listed in the award letter upon providing valid documentation of payment (e.g., canceled checks, paid invoices, etc.). Reimbursement for past purchases will not be made.
All reimbursement submittals must occur within 12 months of the date of award.
Grant recipients must complete the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA) six-month and twelve-month surveys. Failure to submit reports on time may result in reduced funding.
If grant dollars are used to purchase equipment or supplies, in the event of closing or selling the business or selling the equipment, grant recipients must request instructions from USDA on proper disposition of any equipment or supplies with a value greater than $10,000.

Eligibility

The following criteria must be satisfied to be deemed eligible for Dairy Industry Impact grants:

For Fall 2026, all Dairy Industry Impact grant applications must have the potential to positively impact the dairy industry as a whole.
Applicants represent a dairy farm or dairy manufacturing or processing business in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
- Business Location: The goal of the DBIA grant program is to promote the dairy industry within the 11-state region. To that end, businesses must have a business address and manufacturing locations in one or more of the eligible states and be a for-profit entity. The final decision on a company’s eligibility is at the discretion of the DBIA leadership team.
- Dairy Business: DBIA grant awards prioritize dairy businesses developing, producing, and/or marketing dairy products as identified by the USDA. Businesses producing other dairy-based products may apply but are subject to a final determination of eligibility.
Milk used in proposed grant projects to produce a beverage fluid milk product must meet Grade A requirements. All projects must meet all relevant state and federal requirements.
Applicants who have previously received grant funding from the DBIA must demonstrate that this proposed grant project represents a different project or a different phase, sales stream, etc. Previous DBIA awardees’ grant status may be taken into consideration during the review process.
- Previous awardees with active DBIA grants applicants that are less than 50% reimbursed are not eligible for this grant cycle.
Applicants must have no immediate family members working for the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) or the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) or serving on the grant review committee.
Applicants must have an EIN and be in good standing with the IRS at the time of the award announcement.

Application Components

The application includes:

1. Business Data (including Food Safety plan information)

2. Project Data

3. Project Details and Uploads

Project Summery
Project Work Plan and Timeline
Project Budget and Budget Explanation
Business Plan

4. Vendor Quotes

Please see “Application: How to Apply” below for instructions and application materials.

If you need assistance completing the application, or you are unable to submit an application online, please contact the DBIA Program Coordinator as soon as possible at tcarney@cdr.wisc.edu or 608-265-2117.

Application: How to Apply

Please find the application instructions, registration link, and templates on the Application Guide Webpage. New this round the application will require information about your food safety plan – more information and resources can be found here.

Helpful Hints

Before the application opens

We recommend that interested applicants begin to gather information for their application as soon as possible. The DBIA Resources webpage offers a variety of local and regional resources to assist in framing your project and writing your application, such as articles, examples and contact information.

Applicants are also encouraged to meet with their local Small Business Development Center for additional support.

The DBIA strongly encourages all applicants/potential applicants to review the recent “Let’s Get Started” webinar series posted on the DBIA website.

During the application period

The main application components must be submitted directly on the application form (unless otherwise specified). While you may begin to prepare documents and gather information before the application form is available, please be prepared to enter the information directly onto the form.
A list of export resources collected by WCMA may be found here.
The project summary should be a clear overview of what you are proposing to accomplish with DBIA grant funds and its impact on your business. The project work plan and timeline and project budget should complement the project summary to give reviewers an overview of your plan and requirements for the project.
The project budget should be realistically completed. This is not an operating budget, but a project management budget that demonstrates what it will take to complete the project presented in the application from a financial perspective. This would include such entries as:
- Permit or labor costs;
- Real estate related costs;
- Sales and/or marketing costs where relevant; and
- Costs or quotes and alignment for specialized equipment.
The business plan is a standalone document that represents the overall state of your business (even if your proposed project is currently your only business activity). There may be some overlap between the information you share on the project plans and the business plan; please do not reference other documents and ensure each document can be understood independently.
Applications should contain estimates on the intended business impacts of the grant funds. Examples would include:
- Would the grant funds allow you to release or gain access to other funds (e.g., a bank loan) for a non-reimbursable project cost?
- Would the grant funds allow you to gain knowledge from a consultant that will allow you to increase sales, productivity, production capabilities, etc.?
- What is the estimated job creation or retention as a result of this project/initiative? (Overall size is not a factor here; e.g., a two-person company hiring one more person would be an increase of 50%.)
- Would the project result in estimated increases in sales volume, the opening of new sales outlets and/or the opening of new markets?
- Would the project result in improvements, efficacies, or expansions in product delivery (e.g., opening an e-commerce site)?
- Would there be projected increases in transportation efficiencies or logistics?
- Are there other expected business benefits as a result of this grant?

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be scored individually by a grant review committee comprised of CDR and WCMA staff. Each committee member will assign a score of up to 100 points to each application. All scores will then be averaged, and applications will be ranked according to the average scores. Funds will be allocated starting with the application receiving the highest average score and work downward until the funds for this cycle are exhausted. Applications will be scored based on the following criteria:

1 Overall Grant Application:

Is the project or initiative thoroughly described, well-organized, and easy to follow?

2 Project Summary, Work Plan/Timeline:

Does the project meet the selected goal for the Industry Impact grant?

How well has the applicant explained the project and their goals? Is the plan sufficiently detailed and considered?

What is the quality of the work plan or timeline? (clear timelines, milestones, etc.)

3 Business Plan:

What is the quality of the project business plan? (clear timelines, costs, deliverables, etc.)

How well has the applicant demonstrated their ability to successfully implement the project/initiative described and achieve their commercial objectives? (activities described, risk management, experience, collaborators, etc.)

How has the applicant shown leverage in this application by including their own financial equity, either through direct cash contributions or through contributing the use of existing property to this project?

4 Project Budget:

How complete is the project budget scope? Does it include such factors as labor costs, permits, and other sources of funding as well as any planned expenditures such as equipment purchases, service installation costs, etc.?

How reasonable are the estimated costs? Where appropriate, are the budget numbers supported by service provider quotes, the applicant’s written assumptions, equipment estimates, etc.?

5 Outcomes:

How does the project positively impact the dairy industry as a whole? For example, accessing new target markets, improving strategic resource management, and/or developing innovative product and processing updates.

USDA Eligible and Ineligible Costs

The following summarizes some of USDA-AMS allowable and unallowable costs. The categories listed below were selected based on the most popular grant requests during the previous cycle.

Final decisions regarding eligibility will be based on the AMS published list of allowable/unallowable costs found in the link below. DBIA staff is available to assist with any questions regarding what would qualify as an eligible cost.

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites…

BUILDING AND LAND – CONSTRUCTION

Unallowable for the acquisition of buildings, facilities, or land or to make additions, improvements, modifications, replacements, rearrangements, reinstallations, renovations or alterations of an existing building or facility (including site grading and improvement, and architecture fees). This also includes construction and construction-related materials,

Allowable for rental costs of land and building space. However, lease agreements to own (i.e., lease-to-own or rent-to-own) are not allowable. The lease or rental agreement must terminate at the end of the grant cycle.

CONSULTANT COSTS/PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Allowable subject to limitations below. Contractual/consultant costs are expenses associated with purchasing goods and/or procuring services performed by an individual or organization other than the recipient in the form of a procurement relationship.

Allowable for contractor/consultant employee rates that do not exceed the salary of a GS-15 step 10 Federal employee in the area. This does not include fringe benefits, travel, indirect costs, or other expenses.

EQUIPMENT

Unallowable for acquisition costs of general-purpose equipment or lease agreements to own (i.e., lease-to-own or rent-to-own).

Allowable for rental costs of general-purpose equipment. Vehicles may be leased, but not purchased. The lease or rental agreement must terminate at the end of the grant cycle.

Allowable for acquisition costs and rental costs of special purpose equipment provided specific criteria are met: See Link for details.

DEFINITIONS

General Purpose Equipment means equipment that is not limited to technical activities. Examples include office equipment and furnishings, modular offices, telephone networks, information technology equipment and systems, air conditioning equipment, reproduction and printing equipment, and motor vehicles.

Special Purpose Equipment is equipment used only for research, scientific, or technical activities.

SALARIES AND WAGES

Allowable as part of employee compensation for personnel services in proportion to the amount of time or effort an employee devotes to the grant-supported project or program during the period of performance under the Federal award, including salaries, wages, and fringe benefits. Such costs must be incurred under formally established policies of the organization, be consistently applied, be reasonable for the services rendered, and be supported with adequate documentation.

Unallowable for salaries, wages and fringe benefits for project staff who devote time and effort to activities that do not meet the legislated purpose of the grant program.

SALES AND MARKETING COSTS

Unallowable for costs designed solely to promote the image of an organization, general logo, or general brand.

Unallowable for costs for promotion of specific venues, tradeshows, events, meetings, programs, conventions, symposia, seminars, etc. that do not align with the legislated purpose of the grant program.

Unallowable for promotional items, swag, gifts, prizes, memorabilia, and souvenirs.

Allowable with conditions for projects funded under “Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program” (FMLFPP) for marketing activities directly related to the funded project. Promotional items include point-of-sale materials, promotional kits, signs or streamers, automobile stickers, table tents and place mats.

Allowable for costs designed to promote products that align with the purpose of the grant program.

FAQs

Can my company submit more than one application? Can my industry partner and I each submit separate applications related to the same project?

Each company may submit only one application per grant cycle. No more than one award will be offered per company. If you have multiple potential grant projects, please contact DBIA staff for insights prior to beginning your application.

We will not accept applications from more than one company related to the same project. If you have an industry partner on your project who is also interested in submitting, please do so jointly.

If your company is also submitting an application to the Dairy Business Builder grant for a different project, it is possible that both projects will be selected for funding.

Can I request reimbursement for equipment I have already purchased?

No, the grants are designed to fund projects that applicants will undertake in the future. A down payment or a deposit on an equipment item does not disqualify it from grant reimbursement eligibility. However, the majority of the project activities and purchases should be planned for the grant performance period (after award notifications). No reimbursements for down payments will be processed until the full invoice has been paid.

What if I don’t have a business plan? What if I have a business plan in a different format?

Applicants must submit a business plan using the provided (required) template. The business plan should be a standalone document that represents the overall state of your business (even if your proposed project is currently your only business activity). There may be some overlap between the information you share on the project plans and the business plan; please do not reference other documents and ensure each document can be understood independently. Having each applicant use the same business plan format will assist reviewers in evaluating many different applications.

There are resources available on-line and in-person to assist small businesses to develop a business plan if you do not already have one. Detailed business plans greatly assist reviewers in evaluating submitted applications. We recommend reviewing the U.S. Small Business Administration’s business plan guide. More information about business plans can be found here.

How many Dairy Industry Impact grants will be awarded?

The number of awards granted will vary depending on the number and quality of the applications received.

Why do you need my EIN?

To ensure that we are good stewards of USDA funding, DBIA must verify that award recipients are businesses in good standing with the IRS before finalizing an award.

Are matching funds required?

No, matching funds are not required.

What if I need to change my proposal after I receive an award?

We understand that applicants’ circumstances may change between the time they apply for a Dairy Industry Impact grant and the time the funding is awarded. If a successful applicant wishes to change the details of their grant proposal, they must notify the DBIA before the changes are made. A written amendment stating the reasons for the change is required, along with details of the changes and how they affect the application goals. The DBIA will reply in writing to approve or deny the change request. In general, change requests are acceptable, as long as there is no change to the scope of the original application and all funds requested support the original application.

How are Dairy Industry Impact grant applications evaluated?

This is a competitive grant process, with eligible applications being reviewed by members of the DBIA scoring committee. The scoring committee will include a representative of each state in the region. Please see the Review Criteria section for more detailed information about the evaluation process.

Please note that the DBIA reserves the right to reject any proposal received or to offer to partially fund applications.

Is the information I submit confidential?

Funding applications and project reports are subject to disclosure to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). DBIA reserves the right to post funded proposals, summary reports, and survey findings in media reports and on our website. DBIA’s grant review committee will otherwise maintain confidentiality, including of proprietary information included in project proposals.

What happens after I am notified of winning a Dairy Industry grant?

Award recipients will be notified via email of their successful application. This notification will include a list of approved items for reimbursement and the total award amount. Instructions for submitting reimbursement requests will also be included at that time.

Awardees have 12 months from the date of the award notification to make the eligible expenditures and submit reimbursement requests. A 6-month and 12-month report will be sent by the DBIA team as required by the USDA. If an applicant requires an amendment or an extension, this must be requested prior to the 12-month initial grant term.

Where can I find more Export-related resources?

WCMA has put together information on Export resources here.

View all the Dairy Industry Impact grant policies for grant recipients.