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The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA) is now accepting applications for the Spring 2026 Dairy Business Builder Grant Program, offering reimbursement grants of up to $150,000 to support dairy farm diversification, value-added processing, and export development across an 11-state Midwest region.

Applications open February 23, 2026, and are due on April 22, 2026. Award notifications are expected in June 2026.

What Is the Dairy Business Builder Grant?

The Dairy Business Builder program is administered by the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA) to strengthen the dairy industry across Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Since 2018, DBIA has awarded more than 296 grants totaling over $24 million to dairy businesses across the Midwest.

This grant helps dairy businesses grow and evolve. That could mean launching a new cheese or yogurt line, investing in processing equipment, developing dairy beverages, upgrading packaging, finding new uses for byproducts like whey, or expanding into export markets. The goal is to strengthen dairy businesses by helping them create higher-value products and new revenue streams.

Eligible Project Types

Projects must align with at least one DBIA program goal:

• Dairy farm diversification through product development, specialization, packaging and/or marketing
• Creation of value-added dairy products (e.g., cheese, yogurt, beverages)
• Enhancement of dairy commodities or by-products through alternate use or product development
• Creation or expansion of export programs for dairy products

Milk used to produce beverage fluid milk products must meet Grade A requirements.

Funding Overview

• Maximum award: Up to $150,000
• Funding type: Reimbursement grant
• Reimbursement period: Within 12 months of award
• Past purchases: Not eligible
• For large equipment expenditures, awards of up to $150,000 may be made due to rising equipment costs.

Grant recipients must provide documentation of eligible expenses (paid invoices, canceled checks, etc.) for reimbursement. All reimbursement requests must be submitted within 12 months of the award date.

If grant funds are used to purchase equipment or supplies valued over $5,000, recipients must request disposition instructions from USDA in the event of business closure or sale.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants must:

• Be a dairy farm, dairy manufacturer, or dairy processor
• Operate in one of the following states: IL, IA, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, SD or WI
• Be a for-profit entity with a valid EIN
• Be in good standing with the IRS
• Meet all relevant state and federal requirements

Additional eligibility considerations include:

• Applicants must not have immediate family members employed by the Center for Dairy Research (CDR), the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA), or serving on the grant review committee.
• Previous DBIA awardees must propose a new or distinct project phase.
• Applicants with active DBIA grants that are less than 50% reimbursed are not eligible for this cycle.

Important Dates

• Application Opens: February 23, 2026
• Application Deadline: April 22, 2026 (5:00 p.m. CT)
• Award Notifications: June 2026

Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the DBIA grant webpage and view the Helpful Hints video before applying.

The full application materials and program details can be found on the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance grant webpage.

For more information on this grant or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or call us at 530-893-4764.