Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant

Reimbursement grants from the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative for permitted dairy farm businesses in the Southeast to make farm facility updates. Funded by USDA AMS and administered by the UT Institute of Agriculture. Applicants provide a 25% cash match.

• Permitted/licensed dairy businesses (production or processing of milk) in AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV or Puerto Rico

• Funding calendar lists eligible applicants as 'Dairy Producers'

• No immediate family member working for SDBII; $700,000 lifetime cap across SDBII grants

Reimbursement grant; cash match of at least 25% of requested funds (= 20% of total project cost); competitive, scored on a 100-point rubric.

Published amounts: $100,000 maximum award; 25% matching funds requirement. (2026 RFP) Applicants may not be awarded more than $700,000 total across all SDBII grants.

Apply online through the SDBII application portal (Foundant, grantinterface.com urlkey=utk); requires completed application, Grant Budget Form showing 25% match, quotes for equipment over $5,000, at least one Letter of Support, and a UEI from SAM.gov before contracting.

Deadline text on the page: 2026 round closed March 4, 2026 at 5:00pm/ET (page text still says 'currently open'). SDBII funding calendar: 'January 6th – March 3rd, 2027' for the next round.