Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Dairy Business Planning Grant

Reimbursement grants for permitted Southeast dairy businesses to hire experts to plan for the future — feasibility studies for on-farm creameries, business or transition plans, legal services, and specialized training. Run by the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative at the UT Institute of Agriculture with USDA AMS funds. Farm-level operations costs (herd health, feed, upgrades) are not eligible.

• Permitted dairy farm businesses and dairy processors in AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV or Puerto Rico

• Applicants with an open Dairy Business Planning Grant are ineligible

• Farm-level operations (upgrades, herd health, feed) not eligible

Reimbursement; no match required; competitive.

Published amounts: Maximum award: $30,000. A total of $250,000 is available. There is no match requirement on these grants. (2026 RFP)

Apply online through the SDBII application portal (grantinterface.com urlkey=utk); RFP, budget workbook and rubric on the program page; UEI from SAM.gov required before contract.

Deadline text on the page: 'The application window closed on September 23, 2026.' Funding calendar: 'July 22nd – September 23rd, 2026'. Next round not yet posted (prior rounds ran each summer/fall).