RFPs: On-Farm Milk Storage & Handling Grant Program (US)

The focus of this grant is on the purchase of specialized equipment. Applicants will be able to select from a pre-approved list of eligible equipment which includes milk storage tanks, milk pipeline, glycol chillers, milk loading systems, reclaim systems for water, cooling equipment, plate coolers/heat exchangers, and equipment installation costs.

Projects funded by this grant will: streamline milk handling and pick up for both farmers and milk haulers; make milk storage and handling more efficient; improve on-farm food safety, and/or enhance milk quality.

Grants are available to applicants in all 11 Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Funding Information

• Program Total: $1,500,000.00
• Minimum: $15,000.00
• Maximum: $50,000.00
• Grant periods will range from 6 – 12 months, depending on the project.

Eligible Projects

• An effective application will show the following:
  • The reason that the farm’s existing storage and handling equipment and systems do not meet their current needs, and how this grant project is both timely and necessary for the business to succeed.
  • The project is part of a proactive plan for future operation and continued business viability, with measurable results.
  • If the farm has issues with milk quality or food safety, the project will improve conditions and address those issues.
  • The project will make milk handling more efficient (for example, decreases time/labor needed to move milk from tank to truck; allows farm to move from daily to every other day pickup).
  • The project will have significant positive impacts on applicant’s business including, but not limited to, cost savings, energy savings, and more efficient movement of milk from farm to processor.
  • If the applicant ships milk, their application shows how this grant project will enable the farm to meet their processor’s needs and includes a Letter of Support from the processor with all required information

Ineligible Projects

• Projects not primarily located within the Northeast
• Projects that solely support the production or sales of raw fluid milk meant for human consumption without pasteurization
• Projects that use grant funds for:
  • Construction (match funds can be used for construction activities)
  • Purchase or lease-to-own of land/building/facilities
  • Purchase of general equipment (specialized equipment is allowable)
  • Purchase of vehicles

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible applicants are dairy farmers (producers) from any Northeast state (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont) that:
  • are headquartered or based in the Northeast; and
  • produce milk within the Northeast; and
  • are licensed dairy operations in compliance with all required state and/federal standards.
• While the following are not required to apply, if applicant is awarded a grant, they will need to provide the following information.
  • Certificate of Insurance listing the VAAFM as an additional insured
  • Current IRS Form W-9

Application Requirements

• All applications must include:
  • a project budget;
  • a Letter of Support from businesses or organizations that are connected to but not directly engaged in project work;
  • Letter of Support from processors (for farms that ship milk);
  • Letters of Commitment from outside match contributors (if applicable);
  • quotes or bids for all specialized equipment purchases and installation services;
  • additional supporting documents as applicable.

For more information, visit Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center.