The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families in the Southeast, has launched a pilot program offering free grant consulting and grant-writing support for eligible dairy farm projects through a partnership with Lasso, a grant services provider. The initiative aims to help farms identify and secure public funding for on-farm investments such as equipment upgrades, infrastructure improvements, and energy efficiency projects, without the time burden and complexity often associated with grant applications.
Selected participants will receive Lasso's end-to-end support at no cost, including identifying relevant grant opportunities, preparing applications, and managing post-award requirements. By reducing the administrative burden, the pilot enables farmers to focus on sustaining their family businesses while investing in operations for the next generation. Lasso reports a 90 percent success rate and has helped customers secure more than 70 grants, representing millions of dollars in funding for on-farm projects.
"Dairy farmers are constantly looking for innovative ways to invest in their operations, but grant funding can feel out of reach when you're already juggling everything it takes to run a farm," said Farrah Newberry, CEO of The Dairy Alliance. "By allowing Lasso to handle the heavy lifting of applying for grants, farmers can pursue avenues quicker to strengthen their business and support their local community."
Eligible projects may align with federal, state, regional, and local grant programs, including the Value-Added Producer Grant and the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative. Farmers interested in participating should have an on-farm project in mind with potential vendors or service providers identified and be open to pursuing public grant funding. Participants may also be invited to take part in a high-level case study highlighting project type, outcomes, and the benefits of grant funding.
"Many farmers have strong project ideas but don't have the time or resources to navigate the grant process on their own," said Nicole Rojas, co-founder of Lasso. "Partnering with The Dairy Alliance allows us to remove that barrier by helping dairy farmers identify the right funding opportunities and manage the grant process from start to finish, so they can focus on running their farms and investing in their operations with confidence."
Farmers can learn more about the pilot and determine eligibility by contacting the Lasso team or Mekenzie Panhans. For more information about The Dairy Alliance, visit https://thedairyalliance.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram @TheDairyAlliance.
