Dairy Promotion Grant for Farmers

Geographic Scope: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont

Award Amount: Up to $2,400 annually per eligible individual, organization, or farm

Program Overview

New England Dairy's dairy promotion grant program supports activities that improve public perception of dairy farming and/or increase consumption of local dairy products. Grants support grassroots dairy education efforts in communities.

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

Note: Grants will not be awarded to producers who exclusively sell raw milk. $2,400 in funding annually is available per farm. If a farm applies and an individual applies to host an event at that farm, both count toward the $2,400 allowance.

Priority Focus Areas

• Events and programs that engage with youth (ages 5-24) or millennial parents (ages 25-40)
• Community-focused events that connect farmers with consumers
• Open farm days
• Farm camps
• Social media promotion of dairy
• Milk sampling events
• Farm tours for schools
• Dairy-themed agricultural literacy

Allowable Costs

• Dairy products for sampling (must be purchased from a source other than applicant's farm; must include dairy education component)
• Non-dairy food purchases (up to $500) in connection with on-farm or sampling events (e.g., lunch for open farm day)
• Liability insurance coverage (up to $250) for on-farm and community events
• Staff time for farm employees or outside vendors ($125 designated for day-of and/or planning/preparation for in-person event; cannot exceed 10.5% of total grant request, maximum $250)
• Biosecurity expenses (shoe covers, hand washing/sanitization stations)
• Milk dispensing and distribution equipment (bulk milk dispensers, etc.)

Non-Allowable Costs

• Building construction and/or purchasing capital equipment (except milk dispensing/distribution equipment)
• Purchasing livestock
• Events that have already occurred
• Grants cannot fund exclusive raw milk producers

Evaluation Criteria

• Competitive grants decided by New England Dairy staff committee
• Evaluated based on application information and alignment with eligibility requirements
• Strength of plan and potential impact
• No guarantee that full funding will be awarded
• Evaluation rubric available

Grant Timeline

• Deadline: Rolling deadline; applicants must apply at least six weeks before event/activity
• Funding Decisions: Applicants notified by email within three weeks of submission
• Funding Receipt: Approximately two weeks after receiving completed grant paperwork (includes LOA, W9, and other documents)
• Project Completion: By December 31, 2025
• Reporting: Required grant report after event/activity completion to remain eligible in next calendar year (includes project description, impact, and photos)

Funding Source

Funding for this project is paid for by New England Dairy and the Connecticut Milk Promotion Board.

Contact Information

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

Application Process

1. Determine Eligibility: Verify your farm/organization meets eligibility requirements
2. Project Planning:
   • Develop project idea aligned with priority focus areas (youth/millennial engagement, community connection)
   • Plan event or activity at least six weeks in advance
   • Consider target audiences and community impact
3. Submit Application:
   • Complete grant application form
   • Include clear project description and goals
   • Demonstrate alignment with program priorities
   • Provide detailed budget breakdown
   • Explain marketing/promotion plans
   • Show evidence of strong plan and potential impact
4. Application Requirements:
   • Detailed project description
   • Timeline for implementation
   • Budget with itemized costs
   • Youth or millennial engagement strategy
   • Community impact plan
   • Contact information
5. Decision Timeline:
   • Decision made within three weeks of submission
   • Notification via email of approval/denial and funding amount
6. Grant Administration (Upon Award):
   • Submit completed grant paperwork including LOA and W9
   • Receive funding approximately two weeks after paperwork submission
   • Complete project by December 31, 2025
7. Reporting (Post-Implementation):
   • Submit grant report after event/activity completion
   • Include brief project description, impact, and 3-5 photos
   • Required for eligibility in next calendar year
   • New England Dairy may share photos and summary on website/social media

Application Tips

• Be specific and detailed in responses
• Clearly articulate how project engages youth or millennial parents
• Demonstrate strong connection to community
• Show potential for impact on dairy perception/consumption
• Include realistic budget and timeline

Support Available

Contact Farmer Relations Manager for:

• Help with application
• Project eligibility questions
• Creative project brainstorming ideas