Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grant

The new Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grant awards financial assistance to eligible businesses engaged in projects that do one or more of the following: -Expand or refurbish existing milk plants or establish a new milk plant. -Expand or refurbish existing mobile dairy processing units or establish new mobile dairy processing units. -Rent buildings, refrigeration facilities, freezer facilities or equipment necessary to expand dairy processing capacity, including mobile dairy or refrigeration units used exclusively for dairy processing. -Incorporate methods and technologies that reduce farm labor associated with milk production and storage, including but not limited to the use of robotics and processes or systems that operate using computerized equipment or machinery. Eligible Applicants Applicants must: -Business must be located in Iowa. -Business must be permitted by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship or in the process of obtaining a permit. -Project must be permitted activity. -The business must employ less than fifty individuals. -The business must not have been subject to any regulatory enforcement action related to federal, state, or local environmental, worker safety, food processing, or food safety laws, rules, or regulations within the last five years. -The business must not currently be in bankruptcy.