Pennsylvania Creates $5 Million Grant Program for Dairy Farmers
Pennsylvania has created a grant program that will make $5 million in funding available to dairy farmers who are looking to modernize and expand their businesses. The Pennsylvania Dairy Investment Program was announced on Sept. 20 by Governor Tom Wolf and was established through Act 42 of 2018.
“Today’s market has presented new challenges to dairy farmers that are requiring them to innovate and adapt in order to remain successful,” Wolf says. “The new Pennsylvania Dairy Investment Program is a key tool that incentivizes the dairy industry to support the often costly and difficult process of modernizing or expanding their business model or operation. My administration is proud to continue to stand with our hard-working dairy farmers and their families.”
The $5 million grant program is available to applicants for the following uses:
- Researching new technologies, products and best practices
- Marketing to new domestic and international markets and exploring new business opportunities to diversify their operation and revenue streams
- Transitioning to organic production methods
- Incorporating or expanding value-added dairy production, such as cheese and yogurt products
The Pennsylvania Dairy Investment Program is now accepting applications after the program was approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) board.
“These grants will help enable Pennsylvania dairy producers to overcome existing challenges, diversify their businesses, and strengthen their operations to aggressively and effectively compete in an increasingly competitive market,” says Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “This historic funding is not only a critical investment in an industry grappling with difficult global market conditions, but a critical investment in our largest sector of production agriculture and the people whose livelihoods rely on it.”
Funding is expected to be available to farmers in November, according to WGAL News.
More information about the Pennsylvania Dairy Investment Program can be found on the Department of Community and Economic Development website.
