In partnership with New England Dairy, Connecticut Dairy provides up to $2,400 annually for eligible dairy farmers and dairy-focused organizations to support activities that improve the public’s perception of dairy farming and/or increases consumption of Connecticut dairy products through our Dairy Promotion Grant program. Funding for this program is paid for by the Connecticut Milk Promotion Board.
• Connecticut dairy farmers who are currently shipping milk to a co-op or processing their own milk. Applicants must be associated with the 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.)
Events and programs that engage children and young adults (5-24 years old) or parents of young children (25-40 years old)
We have identified several target audiences to focus on when building trust in dairy, including youth and millennial consumers. Youth are future consumers and building trust with this target audience will lead us into the future. Millennial consumers are making purchasing decisions for their family. Overall, we focus on events and program that connect farmers with consumers in their community.
These are competitive grants. Decisions on grant awards will be made by staff from CT Dairy and New England Dairy. Applications will be evaluated based on information provided in the application and alignment with identified eligibility requirements (view our evaluation rubric). There is no guarantee that full funding will be awarded.
The following guidelines apply for funding, in addition to the requirements of the dairy promotion and research order issued by USDA:
• Grants can be used to purchase dairy products for sampling, but must include a dairy education component. Dairy must be purchased from a source (e.g., a grocery store) other than your farm. Grant dollars cannot be used to purchase your own product.
• Grants can be used for liability insurance coverage (up to $250) for on-farm and community events, like sampling milk at a community event.
• Grants can be used for staff time for farm employees or outside vendors. $125 can be designated for staff time, covering the day of and/or planning/preparation for an in-person event. Staff time cannot exceed 10.5% of your total grant request ($250 maximum).
• Grants cannot be used for building construction and/or purchasing capital equipment other than equipment for milk dispensing and distribution (bulk milk dispensers, etc.).
• Grants cannot be used to purchase livestock.
• Grants cannot be used for events that have already occurred.
• Grants will not be awarded to producers who exclusively sell raw milk.
Please note: $2,400 in funding annually is available per farm. If your farm applies for a grant and an individual applies to host an event at your farm, both count toward the $2,400 allowance.
Grant Deadline: There is a rolling deadline for our dairy promotion grant program. Please apply at least six weeks before your event or activity.
Funding Decisions: Applicants will be notified by email of approval or denial, as well as the total funding amount. You can expect a decision within three weeks of submitting your grant application.
Funding: Approved applicants will receive funding approximately two weeks after we receive your completed grant paperwork, which includes an LOA, W–9, and other documents.
Grant Reporting: Grant recipients are required to submit a grant report after completion of the event or activity to remain eligible in the next calendar year. The report will include a brief description of your project, its impact, and photos. CT Dairy and New England Dairy reserve the right to share photos and a summary of your project on our websites and social media.
Find inspiration for potential in-person or virtual events and programs:
• Events focused on farming: Open farm day, dairy crawls, environmental open house, cheese and wine tasting featuring a farmer, interactive exhibits at a fair or food festival.
• Milk sampling or Milk Bar in a Box at a community event: Must be paired with dairy education. New England Dairy has created a Milk Bar in a Box to support milk sampling. Dairy promotion grants can be used to purchase dairy products (but dairy donations are preferred) and other supplies needed for sampling. Contact our farmer relations team to learn more about what supplies are covered through the grant.
• School activities: Dairy-themed ag literacy kits, farm tours for schools.
• Social media campaigns: Video series with targeted social media advertisements focusing on cow care, sustainability, health, and other topics.
CT Dairy and New England Dairy do not provide liability coverage for programs or events that receive a dairy promotion grant. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact your insurance agent for the appropriate type and level of liability insurance coverage.
If you are welcoming visitors to your farm, please follow best practices for biosecurity, including shoe covers, hand washing or sanitization stations, and avoiding milking parlors. Grant funding can be used to cover these expenses.