Source: NCSU COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, 7/13/21
Beginning July 15, 2021, dairy businesses in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky will be eligible to apply for a new round of funding to modernize and diversify their operations through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBII) program. The
first round of funds for this program was made available to Tennessee dairy
farms in 2020 as part of an ongoing grant from the USDA Agricultural Marketing
Service. In this new round of DBII funding, the pool of potential recipients
has expanded to include dairy businesses in Kentucky and North Carolina as well
as Tennessee. The scale of projects that can be funded through this phase of
funding has also grown. Starting
July 15, applicants in the three states will have the opportunity to submit
project proposals for up to $500,000. The program will support projects of many
sizes, but those making requests exceeding $150,000 should operate a licensed
dairy farm and/or dairy plant, utilize a large portion of local milk, and their
grant proposal should include a robust business plan. DBII is
working in affiliation with North Carolina State University Extension and the
Kentucky Dairy Development Council (KDDC) to publicize and evaluate applications
for this round of grant funding. Anyone
who has questions about the program or about allowable expenses or purchases
should reach out to their state contacts. Contact: ncdairyextension@ncsu.edu
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