Agricultural Marketing Service · Department of Agriculture
Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives Program (DBI) Fiscal Year 2026
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Dec 1, 2026 · 55 days left
- Award size
- $2.3M – $3.5M
- Total available
- $12.7M · about 4 awards
- Cost share / match ?
- Required · Work out your budget and match
- Buildings & equipment
- The notice says construction, renovation or equipment can be paid for. Check the limits.
- Who can apply
- Other (see eligibility)
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Grant-ready checklist
How this fits you
- Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- Requires a cost share / match
- Tennessee recipients since 2023: 29
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
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- Regional Food System Partnership Fiscal Year 2026 · Done for this year · next round expected Apr 21 – Jun 5, 2027
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/e1fc9b62-d8b3-45a3-bf54-a15340b9c36b · Printed from grantme.click/grants/0d07e032-d71a-41bd-bee5-c8178fd3246a
Read the official notice View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar Sign in to save
About this grant
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for fiscal year (FY) 2026 from existing initiatives of the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives Program: the California State University Fresno Foundation, the University of Tennessee, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and the University of Wisconsin.
These initiatives serve to:
• Diversify dairy product markets to reduce risk and develop higher value uses for dairy products;
• Promote business development that diversifies farmer income through processing and marketing innovation; and
• Encourage the use of regional milk production.
Approximately $12.65 million is available to fund these initiatives. In the FY 2025 application cycle, AMS funded four applications from the existing initiatives awarding a total of $11,040,000.
AMS strongly encourages DBI initiatives to prioritize subaward funding for projects that request equipment and infrastructure activities in their proposals for these FY2026 funds. See the DBI Specific Terms and Conditions for guidance on allowable equipment and construction costs. Equipment and infrastructure investments are critical to strengthening the dairy industry and overall dairy businesses capacity and DBI is currently uniquely positioned to offer such targeted funding opportunities.
Eligibility (from the notice)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 only from the existing four initiatives of the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives program: the California State University Fresno Foundation, the University of Tennessee, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and the University of Wisconsin.
Should we apply? (2-minute check) Ask a partner for a letter
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct7
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Nov10
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need time to write and sign letters. - Nov24
Finish a complete draft for a final review
University grant offices require final versions about 5 business days before the sponsor deadline. Emory Office of Sponsored Programs - Nov29
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Dec1
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in your tracker and private calendar.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the funding notice FY2026_DBI_Notice_of_Funding_Opportunity.pdf (23 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words; open the page to read it in context. The notice itself always controls.
Registrations you need first
Grants.gov · p. 4
“December 1, 2026, through Grants.gov at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. 1.1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The U.S.” Open page 4
SAM.gov · p. 6
“To submit your application electronically in Grants.gov, you must: o Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN); o Be registered in SAM.gov; o Provide your UEI number and TIN on your application; and o Maintain an active…” Open page 6
Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 6
“To submit your application electronically in Grants.gov, you must: o Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN); o Be registered in SAM.gov; o Provide your UEI number and TIN on your application; and o Maintain an active…” Open page 6
Login.gov · p. 18
“Applicants are required to use Login.gov to sign into Grants.gov.” Open page 18
New to these? SAM.gov registration can take weeks, so start early: grant-ready checklist.
What to submit
Form SF-424 · p. 5
“The applicant must indicate the start date and end date on Block 17 of the SF-424 “Application for Federal Assistance.” Each initiative is eligible to apply for the eligible funding and for the period of performance indicated in the tables below.” Open page 5
Indirect cost rate agreement · p. 12
“Applicants with a NICRA must apply their approved NICRA rate.” Open page 12
Form SF-424A · p. 15
“The SF-424A is available via the application package in Grants.gov.” Open page 15
Letters of support or commitment · p. 17
“AMS will not accept unsigned letters or letters emailed separately. 4.6 LETTERS OF COMMITMENT FROM PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS Required:” Open page 17
Length limits
35 pages max · p. 16
“For example, if the form is 15 pages before you begin entering your project information, your form may be up to 35 pages (15 original pages + 20 pages of applicant content).” Open page 16
20 pages max · p. 16
“The supporting documents listed below do not count toward the 20-page limit. 4.5 LETTERS OF VERIFICATION FOR COST SHARE Required.” Open page 16
Formatting rules
11-point font, single-spaced · p. 16
“The Project Narrative must be typed and single-spaced in an 11-point font, not to exceed twenty (20) 8.5 x 11 pages (excluding existing project narrative form content).” Open page 16
Cost share or match
Cost share / match · p. 5
“This year’s applications must include a mandatory cost share from non-Federal sources in the form of cash and/or in-kind contributions equal to 25 percent of the amount of Federal funds being requested.” Open page 5
Cost share / match · p. 5
“A 25 percent cost share of federal funds requested is required.” Open page 5
Cost share / match · p. 8
“Applicants are required to show evidence of existing community or industry support and engagement. 2.3 COST SHARING REQUIR EMENTS This funding opportunity requires recipients to fund their projects, in part, with cost sharing funds from non- Federal sources…” Open page 8
Dates in the notice
September 30, 2026 · p. 1
“September 30, 2026 Application Due Date: 11:59 PM Eastern Time on December 1, 2026” Open page 1
December 1, 2026 · p. 6
“Grants.gov Resources for Support: o Applicant FAQs o Workspace Overview By following these steps and recommendations, applicants can reduce errors, meet deadlines, and ensure compliance with submission requirements. 1.6 TIMING TO OBTAIN & SUBMIT GRANTS.GOV…” Open page 6
Mistakes that get applications rejected
Could get your application rejected · p. 14
“Boxes will not be accepted.” Open page 14
Could get your application rejected · p. 16
“Handwritten applications or applications submitted in MS Word will not be accepted.” Open page 16
Could get your application rejected · p. 16
“Handwritten applications or applications in MS Word will not be accepted.” Open page 16
Could get your application rejected · p. 19
“Applicants without a current SAM.gov registration will be rejected. 4.” Open page 19
Who in Tennessee has won this program
4 awards to Tennessee recipients in 1 county since federal FY2023. Largest shown:
| Recipient | Where | Amount | FY |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $14.1M | 2022 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $7.1M | 2023 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $3.5M | 2026 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $3.5M | 2024 |
Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds; they don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another grantee
This federal money also reaches local groups as subawards. 25 subawards on file. Largest shown:
| Recipient | Where | Through | Amount | FY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetwater Valley Farm, Inc. | Philadelphia | University of Tennessee | $300K | 2026 |
| Ledgendairy Cheeseworks Llc | Sequatchie, Marion County | University of Tennessee | $300K | 2023 |
| Old Stone Creamery | Spring Hill | University of Tennessee | $219K | 2023 |
| Watauga Valley Farms | Elizabethton, Carter County | University of Tennessee | $200K | 2024 |
| Citizens Soda Fountain Company, Llc | Knoxville, Knox County | University of Tennessee | $154K | 2025 |
| Harrison Dairy,Inc. | Loudon, Monroe County | University of Tennessee | $152K | 2024 |
| Charles Parker Simpson | New Market, Jefferson County | University of Tennessee | $146K | 2024 |
| Sparkman Johnny Farm | Sparta | University of Tennessee | $142K | 2024 |
| Nash Family Farms Llc | Chapel Hill, Bedford County | University of Tennessee | $130K | 2024 |
| Rita E Davis | Philadelphia, Loudon County | University of Tennessee | $100K | 2024 |
| Carmichael Dairy Llc | Riceville, McMinn County | University of Tennessee | $100K | 2024 |
| Harrison Dairy,Inc. | Loudon, Monroe County | University of Tennessee | $100K | 2024 |
Source: USAspending.gov subaward reports (prime recipients report subawards of $30,000 or more).
About the program (10.176)
Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives — DBI Initiatives
How applications are judged
Applications will be evaluated based on the criteria established for the program and described in the RFA. The most current RFA is available via Grants.gov or www.ams.usda.gov/grants.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: A DBI Initiative demonstrated its continued leadership in supporting regional dairy innovation. Seven dairy processors across the Northeast were awarded funding to enhance their marketing capabilities, with projects ranging from cohesive brand messaging and digital strategy development to e-commerce website launches and consumer research on cheese curd packaging. These initiatives are expected to strengthen the visibility and market reach of value-added dairy products. Concurrently, the Initiative celebrated the near completion of the 2023 Marketing & Branding Services subawards, with nine businesses advancing their branding and promotional efforts. The initiative also oversaw the successful implementation of the On-Farm Milk Storage and Handling Grant program, with 22 of 23 subrecipients completing infrastructure upgrades that improved milk quality, energy efficiency, and hauling logistics. Additionally, through a partnership, 30 small farms received critical equipment upgrades that enabled them to maintain market access and business continuity. These accomplishments were further amplified by the Northeast Dairy Innovation Summit, which convened over 200...