OpenFederal grantUSDA-AMS-TM-DBI-G-26-0011

Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives Program (DBI) Fiscal Year 2026

Agricultural Marketing ServiceCloses Dec 1, 2026(49 days left)$2,300,000 – $3,450,000

Does this fit your business?

This is a restricted federal competition: only the four existing Dairy Business Innovation initiatives (CSU Fresno Foundation, University of Tennessee, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, and University of Wisconsin) can apply for roughly $2.3M-$3.45M each. If you are not one of those four entities, do not apply; dairy businesses may only benefit indirectly if one of these initiatives passes funds to them as a subaward.

Best for
California State University Fresno Foundation, University of Tennessee, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, University of Wisconsin
Not for
Dairy farms and other for-profit businesses, Small businesses seeking direct funding, Any organization not among the four named initiatives
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Agriculture & FarmingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Arts & CultureLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Construction & InfrastructureLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Education & TrainingLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Energy & Clean TechLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Environment & ConservationLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Show all 15 industries
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Finance & BankingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Food & BeverageLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Healthcare & BiotechLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Housing & Real EstateLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
ManufacturingLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Social Services & NonprofitLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Technology & SoftwareLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring
Transportation & LogisticsLimit: Only governments, nonprofits, tribes or universities may apply —…
0
Worth Exploring

These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.

What this funds

Money can be used for
Equipment, Infrastructure, Capital projects, Technical assistance
Who can apply
Colleges and universities, State and local governments
Award range
$2,300,000 – $3,450,000

Questions about this grant

When is the application deadline?
December 1, 2026.
How much funding can an applicant receive?
Awards range from $2,300,000 to $3,450,000, with about four awards expected from a total program funding of $12,650,000. Cost sharing is required.
Who can apply for this grant?
Only the four existing Dairy Business Innovation initiatives may apply: the California State University Fresno Foundation, the University of Tennessee, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and the University of Wisconsin. For-profit businesses, including small businesses, may not apply.
Can a sole proprietor or single-member LLC apply?
No. The competition is restricted to the four existing DBI initiatives, and for-profit businesses may not apply.
Can a nonprofit apply?
Not as a general rule. The only eligible applicants are the four named existing DBI initiatives, so no other nonprofit may apply.

Summary

Restricted competition: only the four existing DBI initiatives (CSU Fresno Foundation, University of Tennessee, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, and University of Wisconsin) may apply. Funds support dairy market diversification, processing/marketing innovation, and regional milk use, with priority for subawards funding dairy business equipment and infrastructure.

About this grant

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for fiscal year (FY) 2026 from existing initiatives of the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives Program: the California State University Fresno Foundation, the University of Tennessee, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and the University of Wisconsin. These initiatives serve to:

• 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; and • Encourage the use of regional milk production.

Approximately $12.65 million is available to fund these initiatives. In the FY 2025 application cycle, AMS funded four applications from the existing initiatives awarding a total of $11,040,000. AMS strongly encourages DBI initiatives to prioritize subaward funding for projects that request equipment and infrastructure activities in their proposals for these FY2026 funds. See the DBI Specific Terms and Conditions for guidance on allowable equipment and construction costs. Equipment and infrastructure investments are critical to strengthening the dairy industry and overall dairy businesses capacity and DBI is currently uniquely positioned to offer such targeted funding opportunities.

Who can apply

Our reading of the listing: for-profit businesses are not eligible for this one.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 only from the existing four initiatives of the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives program: the California State University Fresno Foundation, the University of Tennessee, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and the University of Wisconsin.

Topics and uses of funds

Topics

  • Agriculture
  • Economic development

Program contact

Agricultural Marketing ServiceIPPGrants@usda.gov202-260-8449

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