Remaining committed to aiding in the success of American dairy businesses and producers, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $22.9 million as part of the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant program.
“The Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives program is a unique and effective model that targets resources in ways that meet shared regional needs and builds upon local and regional dairy markets,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “This program is just another example of USDA’s commitment to strengthening our nation’s food systems by supporting local and regional producers.”
The funds are being awarded non-competitively to the four current DBI Initiatives at the California State University Fresno, the University of Tennessee, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, and the University of Wisconsin, a release explained. This award is part of the 2022 annual appropriations provided by Congress and come in addition to the $80 million in supplemental funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act that were given to the four initiatives in June 2022.
This funding will enable the DBI Initiatives to continue building on their achievements while supporting producers in increasing processing capacity, making on-farm improvements, and offering technical assistance.
To read more about DBI and its success, click here.
For more updates on USDA’s efforts to support the nation’s food system, keep a tab open for Deli Market News.
