The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) invites Wisconsin dairy processors to apply for Dairy Processor Grants through 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 7. These grants aim to foster innovation, improve profitability, and sustain the long-term viability of Wisconsin’s dairy processing facilities.
A total of $500,000 is available for this year’s dairy processor grants, as part of the biennial budget signed by Gov. Tony Evers. Eligible applicants must operate a licensed dairy processing plant in Wisconsin that is engaged in pasteurizing, processing, or manufacturing milk or dairy products. Funding from these grants can be used to address a wide range of dairy business needs such as food safety, staff training, plant expansion or modernization, and professional consulting services.
Grants will be awarded for projects up to $50,000 and two years long. Processors must provide a match of 20% of the grant amount. Recipients will be chosen through a competitive selection process.
More information and the grant application are available here. Grant recipients will be announced in January 2025.
Since 2014, DATCP has received 235 Dairy Processor Grant proposals requesting more than $10 million. DATCP has funded 121 of those proposals totaling $2.6 million.
