New England Dairy has launched the second round of its 2024 Dairy Promotion Grant program for farmers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Connecticut.
Dairy farmers and dairy-focused groups are eligible to apply for grant funding of up to $2,400 annually. The funding supports activities that improve public perception of dairy farming and increase the consumption of local dairy products.
This initiative is part of New England Dairy’s mission to champion the dairy industry, build trust among consumers, and celebrate dairy farming’s vital contributions to nutrition and wellness. New England Dairy is particularly focused on engaging youth and millennials to foster connections between farmers and local consumers.
More than $28,000 has already been awarded to 16 farmer-led dairy promotion activities this year to support projects in communities throughout the region.
Recent grant recipients used their funding to:
- Run an educational camp where kids learn firsthand about dairy farming
- Host a breakfast on the farm event for the public to enjoy breakfast and farm tours
- Create and purchase dairy education materials to present at community events
- Promote their farm tour program with printed signage and social media ads
- Cover marketing expenses for an ice cream dairy crawl program
- Produce informative short videos highlighting local dairy farms
The deadline to apply for grant funding for projects taking place between September and December is August 30, 2024.
A new round of funding will be available in January for 2025 projects.