Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives Program (DBI) Fiscal Year 2025

The Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives grant program for Fiscal Year 2025 is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). This program supports regionally-based efforts to promote innovation and resiliency in the U.S. dairy sector. The grant is part of the USDA’s broader strategy to strengthen agricultural markets and supply chains by investing in value-added production and market diversification. In FY 2025, the DBI program has been structured as a non-competitive opportunity exclusively for four pre-designated initiatives that were competitively selected in prior funding years. The program’s primary purpose is to assist existing DBI initiatives in continuing their work to support the development, marketing, production, and distribution of dairy products across regional systems. These initiatives aim to diversify dairy product markets, support farmer income through value-added production, and promote the use of regionally-produced milk. Applicants are expected to provide both direct technical assistance and financial subawards to dairy businesses. Eligible uses of funds include business consulting, marketing assistance, product innovation, facility upgrades, and capacity building through events like trainings, webinars, and field tours. Each of the four current initiatives may apply for specific funding allocations for a three-year period from September 30, 2025, to September 29, 2028. These are: California State University Fresno Foundation ($690,000), University of Tennessee ($3,450,000), Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets ($3,450,000), and University of Wisconsin ($3,450,000). At least 50% of each initiative’s award must be allocated to competitive subawards for dairy businesses, with a maximum subaward limit of $500,000. While no cost sharing is required, initiatives must avoid supplanting existing funds and cannot use the funds for new construction or structural expansions. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on September 9, 2025. Applicants are advised to begin early to secure all registrations (UEI, SAM.gov, Grants.gov) which may take up to four weeks. The official opening date for submissions is July 14, 2025. There are no pre-application deadlines such as Letters of Intent. The program is expected to recur annually, with funding contingent upon federal appropriations. AMS evaluates applicants on conformity, program fit, and financial/administrative capacity, with an additional “Risk Review” to assess past performance and grant management history. Each application must include the SF-424 form, SF-424A budget form, a Project Abstract Summary, a Project Narrative (using the official template), and Letters of Commitment from all partners and collaborators. If an applicant elects to use an indirect cost rate, they must include their approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). All recipients must attend a project coordinator meeting during the grant period and budget for associated travel expenses unless the meeting is held virtually. The primary contact for program inquiries is the DBI Program Staff, reachable at IPPGrants@usda.gov. Technical assistance resources and templates are available on the DBI program webpage. Questions about Grants.gov functionality should be directed to their 24/7 support line at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. This RFA is exclusively open to the four named initiatives; other entities are ineligible to apply. Award notifications will be sent after review and negotiation, and grantees must comply with AMS General Terms and Conditions and all applicable federal regulations.

Submit 2 weeks early, register with SAM.gov and Grants.gov, avoid special characters, confirm UEI