The Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (SDBII), with support from USDA AMS, offers grants to dairy businesses in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.
Donor Name: Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative
State: Selected States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/01/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The program provides grant awards to revitalize and spur innovation in the dairy industry across the Southeast. The Dairy Industry Impact Grant provides reimbursement funds to permitted dairy businesses located in the Southeast who are seeking funds to undertake a project that will have far reaching direct impacts for many other dairy industry stakeholders.
The Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative is currently accepting letters of intent for the Dairy Industry Impact Grant. This grant is intended to support projects that will have an impact across the Southeast (impacting consumers and or consumers in a minimum of two southeastern states). Dairy businesses that operate a licensed dairy business in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, or Puerto Rico are eligible to apply.
Funding Priorities
The purpose of awards in this category will be to support projects that have a significant impact on the dairy infrastructure of the Southeast Region. Requests for funds under this RFP should relate to one of the following areas and offer a justification for how the selected technology will impact one or multiple of the following priorities:
- Diversify dairy product markets to reduce risk and develop higher value uses for dairy products
- Promote business development that diversifies farmer income through processing and marketing innovation
- Encourage the use of regional milk supply.
Funding Information
$500,000 maximum award.
Allowable Costs
- 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
- 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.
- For contractor/consultant 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
- 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.
- For acquisition costs and rental costs of special purpose equipment (as defined below). Acquisition costs for special purpose equipment may include installation and delivery costs. However, costs for general service work that may be funded as part of specialty equipment or supply item installation (electricity, piping, water, etc.) are not eligible on their own.
- For acquisition costs and rental costs of supply items that are necessary to the completion of the project.
Eligibility Criteria
- Dairy businesses that operate a licensed dairy farm in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, or Puerto Rico are eligible to apply.
- Eligible applicants may not have an immediate family member (i.e., parent, sibling, spouse, or child), working as an affiliated staff or faculty member with the SDBII, or serving on the award review committee.
- Priority will be given to the following:
- Entities that received direct technical assistance through SDBII
- Dairy businesses with limited access to other forms of assistance.
For more information, visit SDBII.
