New England Dairy’s mission is to champion New England dairy farm families and the nutritious foods they produce. We accomplish this by promoting dairy, building trust among consumers, and celebrating all things dairy — farming, food, nutrition, and wellness.
Our dairy promotion grant program provides up to $2,400 annually for eligible individuals and organizations and supports activities that improve public perception of dairy farming and/or increase consumption of local dairy products.
Events and programs that engage with youth (5-24 years old) or millennial parents (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 a committee of New England Dairy staff. 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.
New England Dairy has established guidelines for funding in addition to the requirements of the dairy promotion and research order issued by USDA.
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.
Funding for this project is paid for by New England Dairy and the Connecticut Milk Promotion Board.
Grant Deadline: There is a rolling deadline for our 2025 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, W9, and other documents.
Grant reporting: Projects must be completed by December 31, 2025. 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. New England Dairy reserves the right to share photos and a summary of your project on our website and social media.
Grant Deadline: The deadline to apply for a spring promotion grant is March 21, 2025.
Funding Decisions: Applicants will be notified by email of approval or denial, as well as the total funding amount, by You can expect a decision by the middle of April.
Funding: Approved applicants will receive funding approximately two weeks after we receive your completed grant paperwork, which includes an LOA, W9, and other documents.
Grant reporting: Projects must be completed by December 31, 2025. 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. New England Dairy and CT Dairy reserve the right to share photos and a summary of your project on our website and social media.
Find inspiration for potential in-person or virtual events and programs:
New England Dairy does 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.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is circulating in dairy cattle across the country. While there are no confirmed cases of HPAI in New England, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have recommended limiting the amount of traffic on farms. If you are welcoming visitors to your farm, please follow best practices for biosecurity, including shoe covers, hand washing or sanitization stations, limiting access in barns, and avoiding milking parlors. Grant funding can be used to cover these expenses.
Farmers and dairy-industry organizations can apply for up to $2,400 in funding through our dairy promotion grant program.
Contact us for support on the grant application, to see if your project qualifies, or for help brainstorming creative project ideas.
Farmer Relations Manager: Elicia Pinsonault
Email: epinsonault@newenglanddairy.com
Phone: 617-380-3941
General questions: info@newenglanddairy.com