(NAFB.com) – The USDA is awarding more than $11 million in grant funding to support dairy businesses and producers through the Dairy Business Innovation Grant Program. The initiatives support small and mid-sized dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products. “This funding through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives makes important investments in the domestic dairy industry, furthering USDA’s efforts to ensure Americans have access to affordable, wholesome U.S. dairy products,” said Dudley Hoskins, USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. This year’s funds will go to four current DBI Initiatives at California State University—Fresno, the University of Tennessee, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, and the University of Wisconsin. The initiatives will use the funding to provide valuable technical assistance and sub-award funds to dairy  farmers and businesses across their regions, supporting them with business plan development, marketing, and branding. For more information, go to the AMS Dairy Business Innovation webpage.