Dairy Product Trade Show Assistance Grant

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the Dairy Product Trade Show Assistance Grant program. This grant is open to dairy processors and/or producer associations seeking to exhibit and sell value-added dairy products at domestic and/or international business-to-business trade shows. It supports established value-added dairy processor businesses and producer associations in increasing exposure and promotion of their regionally produced dairy products.

Grant funds cover the cost of attending trade shows including registration, travel, costs of product samples, production and distribution of sell-sheets and other marketing materials, professional branding and design services, trade show booth set-up, and more. Applicants may exhibit at up to five regional and/or international business-to-business trade shows of their choosing, and must not have exhibited at the proposed trade shows more than five times previously.

Status: This grant opportunity is currently closed.

Applicants eligible for these funds must fall into at least one of the following categories:

1. Dairy processor that currently transforms raw milk into an edible product and is licensed in a way that their product can be sold across state lines, and:

• is headquartered or based in the Northeast; and

• sources or produces milk within the Northeast; and

• if a value-added processor, manufactures products within the Northeast.

1. Dairy producer association / dairy council which represents and promotes dairy products and dairy businesses of the Northeast. Grant projects submitted by dairy producer associations must support multiple dairy businesses in attending trade shows in order to be eligible.

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 range from $5,000 to $20,000

• A 25% cash and/or in-kind match commitment is required

• Total funds available: $150,000 (the linked FY25 RFA states $125,000 available for that round)

• Grants are awarded on a rolling basis while the round is open

• Grant funds are distributed over two payments; unless otherwise arranged with the grant program manager, the default payment structure is 50% of grant funds upfront and 50% once the grant is complete

• Project length (FY25 round): trade shows had to occur between August 20, 2024 and June 30, 2025. Participation in more than one trade show within the timeframe is encouraged, though no more than five trade shows are allowed.

• Key dates (FY25 round): RFA released August 6, 2024; rolling application opened August 6, 2024; rolling application closed November 28, 2024 at 2:00 PM ET

• Funding source: the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, made possible by USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) award AM22DBIVT1015. NE-DBIC is hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) and is one of four USDA-AMS Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives in the nation.

Applications for this grant opportunity are currently closed. When open, the process is:

1. Review the full Dairy Product Trade Show Assistance Grant Request for Applications (RFA) for complete details on eligible projects/applicants and the full application process.

2. Register in WebGrants at https://agriculturegrants.vermont.gov/ (registration may take up to two business days).

3. Complete your application in WebGrants using NE-DBIC's Application Guide (https://nedairyinnovation.com/resources/applicants-recipients/).

Applicants who do not already have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov are strongly encouraged to start that process during the application period to ensure a timely start to their grant if awarded; there are currently significant delays. Program questions: Ali Boochever, ali.boochever@vermont.gov, (802) 261-5740. WebGrants technical assistance: Rebecca Brockett, rebecca.brockett@vermont.gov, (802) 636-7016. Support is generally available Monday–Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM ET.

• Program page: https://nedairyinnovation.com/grants/trade-show-assistance-grant/

• Full RFA (FY25): https://nedairyinnovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/FY25-Trade-Show-Assistance-Grant.pdf

• Resources for Grant Applicants and Recipients (WebGrants application guide): https://nedairyinnovation.com/resources/applicants-recipients/

• NE-DBIC grants index and funding calendar: https://nedairyinnovation.com/grants/