BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine - ECPv6.17.4.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Appalachian Highlands Farmers Magazine
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T000000
DTSTAMP:20260914T212551Z
CREATED:20260913T153702Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260914T212551Z
UID:9663-1790121600-1790121600@appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com
SUMMARY:SDBII Dairy Grants Applications Close September 23
DESCRIPTION:Applications for two SDBII Dairy Grants available through the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative are due September 23 at 5 p.m. Eastern. The 2026 funding cycle includes the Specialty Processing Equipment Grant and the Dairy Business Planning Grant. \nBoth programs are open to permitted dairy businesses\, including farms and processors\, in 12 Southeastern states — including Kentucky\, North Carolina\, Tennessee\, Virginia\, and West Virginia — as well as Puerto Rico. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service supports the grants. \nFor Appalachian Highlands dairy businesses\, the programs may offer an opportunity to address needs that are difficult to cover through normal farm operating income. \n\n\nSDBII Dairy Grants Can Support Processing Equipment\nThe Specialty Processing Equipment Grant provides reimbursement funding for projects that increase efficiency or capacity or add new processing capabilities to an existing or proposed dairy processing facility. \nFor 2026\, the maximum award is $150\,000\, and recipients must provide a 25% match. \nThis makes the program particularly relevant to dairy businesses considering processing expansion\, new products\, or equipment upgrades. A processing investment can help a dairy farm move beyond commodity milk production and explore higher-value products\, but those projects can also require substantial upfront capital. \nSDBII Dairy Grants Include Business Planning Assistance\nThe second opportunity is the Dairy Business Planning Grant\, which offers awards of up to $30\,000. \nRather than paying for processing equipment\, this grant helps permitted dairy businesses hire professional expertise to plan for the future. That can include work connected to business planning and evaluating future opportunities. \nFor a farm considering a major expansion\, value-added enterprise or other change\, outside professional assistance can help determine whether an idea makes financial and operational sense before the business commits significant resources. \nSDBII Dairy Grants Require Applicants to Choose One Program\nApplicants may apply for only one of the two SDBII Dairy Grants during this funding cycle. Program officials also advise applicants to read the full Request for Proposals before beginning an application. \nApplicants should review eligibility requirements\, allowable costs\, required documents\, budgets\, and scoring information well before the deadline. Waiting until September 23 to begin gathering those materials could create unnecessary problems. \nAward recipients must also have a Unique Entity Identifier\, or UEI\, before a grant contract can be executed. Program officials recommend beginning that process early because obtaining a UEI can take several weeks. \nSDBII Dairy Grants Deadline Is 5 p.m. Eastern\nSubmit applications for both programs by 5 p.m. Eastern on September 23. \nDairy farmers and processors considering either opportunity should review the official application materials now\, determine which grant best fits their project\, and make sure required records and supporting documents are ready before the deadline. \nFor Appalachian Highlands dairy businesses considering processing improvements or a major business decision\, the SDBII Dairy Grants could provide financial support and an opportunity to strengthen the operation’s long-term direction. \nRead our full-length articles about educational opportunities here!
URL:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/event/sdbii-dairy-grants-application-deadline/
CATEGORIES:Education,Grants & Deadlines
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://appalachianhighlandsfarmers.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-Fall-Grants-Announcement-July-scaled-aspect-ratio-700-400.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR