Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Grants

Funder: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection

The Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Grants program supports the state's agricultural and food industries by addressing marketing and distribution challenges. Administered by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the program provides up to $50,000 per project with a 50% matching requirement. Since 2008, it has funded 128 projects, generating significant local food sales and creating over 540 jobs, benefiting thousands of producers and markets across Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer ​Protection (DATCP) administers the grants, which can help farms and business more efficiently process, market, and di​stribute food in local stores, schools, and institutions.
The maximum award for each project is $50,000, and grant applicants must​ provide a cash or in-kind match of at least 50% of the total project budget. Generally, qualified applicants are individuals, groups, or businesses involved in Wisconsin production agriculture, food processing, food distribution, food warehousing, retail food establishments, or agricultural tourism operations. Proposals can include individual projects, collaborations,​ or partnerships.
Since its inception in 2008, 607 applications have been submitted for BLBW grants, requesting a total of more than $21.03 million in funding. Of those applications, 128 projects have been funded, totaling $3.227 million. Previous grant recipients have generated over​ $14.7 million in new local food sales, created and retained more than 540 jobs, and benefited more than 5,600 producers and 5,500 markets.​  ​