On-Farm Milk Storage & Handling Grant

Grant Overview

This grant program is currently closed.

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the On-Farm Milk Storage & Handling Grant program, which will provide grants for dairy farmers to access funds that support the purchase of equipment and other related costs that will improve milk storage, handling, and energy efficiencies. The focus of this grant is on the purchase of specialized equipment. Applicants will be able to select from a pre-approved list of eligible equipment which includes milk storage tanks, milk pipeline, glycol chillers, milk loading systems, reclaim systems for water, cooling equipment, plate coolers/heat exchangers, and equipment installation costs.

Projects funded by this grant will: streamline milk handling and pick up for both farmers and milk haulers; make milk storage and handling more efficient; improve on-farm food safety, and/or enhance milk quality. Applications that show a proactive approach to planning for future storage and handling needs and that demonstrate a clear, timely need for equipment purchases will be more competitive. 

Grants are available to applicants in all 11 Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Grants will range from $15,000- $50,000 with a 25% match commitment. Match waivers are also available. FSA low-interest loans and other grants are encouraged to supplement the project. Total funds available: $1,500,000.

Note for New York applicants: The New York State (NYS) Department of Agriculture and Markets is now offering the NYS Dairy Modernization Grant, which funds projects to expand on-farm milk storage capacity and improve the transportation and storage of milk. These grants will range from $50,000 to $250,000. If your project costs exceed $50,000, please consider applying for the New York grant program. If your project costs are between $15,000 and $50,000, please apply for this NE-DBIC grant.  

Eligibility

Applicants eligible for these funds are dairy farmers (producers) that:

  1. are headquartered or based in the Northeast; and
  2. produce milk within the Northeast; and
  3. are licensed dairy operations in compliance with all required state and/federal standards.

How to Apply

  1. Review the full Request for Applications (RFA) for the complete details on eligible projects/applicants and the full application process. 
  2. Register in WebGrants (may take up to two business days).
  3. Complete your application in WebGrants using our Application Guide. This grant opportunity is currently closed.
  4. Applicants who do not already have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov are strongly encouraged to start this process during the application period to ensure a timely start to their grant, if awarded. 
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