Dairy Promotion Grant for Farmers

Geographic Scope: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
Focus: Grassroots dairy education efforts that improve public perception of dairy farming and/or increase consumption of local dairy products

Eligibility

Who Can Apply:

• Dairy farmers in CT, MA, NH, RI, and VT (must be associated with production of cow's milk)
• Retired dairy farmers or agriculture advocates, in partnership with an active dairy producer
• Agriculture organizations (FFA, Farm Bureau, 4-H, etc.) within the five-state region

Priority Areas

• Events and programs that engage with youth (5-24 years old) or millennial parents (25-40 years old)
• Events that connect farmers with consumers in their community
• These are competitive grants with no guarantee of full funding

Allowable Uses

• Purchase dairy products for sampling (must include dairy education component; dairy must be purchased from external source, not your own farm)
• Non-dairy food purchases up to $500 (must be in connection with on-farm or sampling event)
• Liability insurance coverage up to $250 for on-farm and community events
• Staff time: $125 maximum for day-of and/or planning/preparation for in-person events (cannot exceed 10.5% of total grant request)
• Equipment for milk dispensing and distribution (bulk milk dispensers, etc.)
• Biosecurity expenses (shoe covers, hand washing/sanitization stations)

Non-Allowable Uses

• Building construction and/or capital equipment purchases (except milk dispensing equipment)
• Livestock purchase
• Events that have already occurred
• Grants will not be awarded to producers who exclusively sell raw milk
• Note: $2,400 in funding annually is available per farm. If your farm applies AND an individual applies to host an event at your farm, both count toward the $2,400 allowance

Project Ideas

• Open farm days, dairy crawls, environmental open houses
• Cheese and wine tastings featuring a farmer
• Interactive exhibits at fairs or food festivals
• Milk sampling or Milk Bar in a Box at community events (paired with dairy education)
• School activities (dairy-themed ag literacy kits, farm tours)
• Social media campaigns (video series with targeted advertisements)

Timeline

• Grant Deadline: Rolling deadline - apply at least six weeks before your event or activity
• Funding Decisions: Within three weeks of submission
• Funding Received: Approximately two weeks after completing grant paperwork (LOA, W9, etc.)
• Project Completion: By December 31, 2025
• Grant Reporting: Required after completion; brief description, impact, and photos

Insurance

• New England Dairy does not provide liability coverage
• Applicants strongly encouraged to contact insurance agent for appropriate coverage

Contact

Farmer Relations Manager: Elicia Pinsonault
General inquiries: info@newenglanddairy.com

Application Process

1. Prepare Your Application
   • Submit at least six weeks before your planned event or activity
   • Ensure project aligns with identified eligibility requirements
   • Applications will be evaluated based on strength of plan and potential impact
   • Incomplete applications and those with vague answers will not be considered
2. Review Evaluation Rubric
   • View the evaluation rubric on the New England Dairy website
   • Assess alignment with priority audiences (youth 5-24 or millennial parents 25-40)
   • Consider community connection and impact potential
3. Submit Application
   • Email to: dairygrants@newenglanddairy.com
   • Include all required information
4. Approval and Funding
   • Applicants notified by email of approval/denial and total funding amount
   • Expect decision within three weeks of submission
   • Upon approval, complete required paperwork: LOA (Letter of Authorization), W9, and other documents
   • Receive funding approximately two weeks after paperwork submission
5. Grant Reporting
   • Upon project completion, submit grant report (required to remain eligible in next calendar year)
   • Include: brief project description, impact statement, and 3-5 photos
   • New England Dairy reserves right to share photos and project summary on website/social media

Contact for Support

• Farmer Relations Manager: Elicia Pinsonault
• Email: epinsonault@newenglanddairy.com
• Phone: 617-380-3941
• Contact for support on application, project qualification, or brainstorming creative ideas