Grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Complete your online application below. *Click here to download a W-9 form. Complete this form and upload it with your application below.
*Note: Program support is made possible through a USDA grant with West Virginia University titled: “Working Lands of Central Appalachia.” This grant is spread over five years to receive support in three phases, with the first phase being a business consultation and summary review valued at $5,000. Once Phase 1 is completed, Phase 2 and 3 would provide funding of up to team support of $6,000 and up to $10,000 for dairy herds and $5,100 for goat herds, with both phased provided on a 25 percent cost share basis, meaning the farm would have to cover 25 percent of the total team and reinvestment costs incurred. The goal of reinvestment is to increase productivity, efficiency, and profitability on the dairy farm in the long term. This grant is offered on a first-come, first served basis until funding is utilized. Funding is available for up to 19 farms to be accepted into program. You will be notified of acceptance into the program upon receipt of this application. To be eligible, an applicant must be a dairy farm based in West Virginia producing and marketing milk. Both dairy cow herds and dairy goat herds are eligible to apply.
Phase 1: An Individual Business Consultation. This stage is designed to provide dairy producers with the opportunity for one-on-one consulting on initial needs assessment, farm evaluation of viability and pathways forward. Farm will receive a business summary report with S.M.A.R.T objectives and recommendations to guide subsequent team support steps. (Up to $5,000)
Phase 2: Team Support. A team of key advisors, like the nutritionist, veterinarian, business consultant, lender, accountant, attorney, with local extension or consultant as a facilitator for the team, to meet and help the farm to identify and implement the options presented in the business summary report for transformation and transition. Funds would be awarded on a reimbursable basis with a 25 percent cost share and could be used to cover discovery related costs, transformation costs like site surveys and permitting fees, and consultant fees for business advisors, accountants, attorneys and others working with the team. (Up to $6,000)
Phase 3: The Reinvestment Grant. After the consultation assessment and business summary report has been completed, farms will move into the reinvestment stage. Based on the team’s review and plans, the farm would have seed money to invest in one of the growth opportunities identified. Funds would be awarded on a reimbursable basis with a 25 percent cost, meaning that the farmer would invest at least $2,500 of their own funds ($1,250 for goat herds) or from another funding source to receive the full $10,000 ($5,000 for goat herds) in support. The goal of reinvestment is to increase productivity, efficiency, and profitability on the dairy farm in the long term.