MADISON, WIS. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection announced that 19 Wisconsin dairy companies have been awarded DATCP Dairy Processor Grants this year.

The grant program was established to foster innovation, improve profitability and sustain the long-term viability of dairy processing facilities in the state.

“Wisconsin’s dairy industry is not only a vital part of our economy, but it’s core to our Wisconsin heritage and who we are as a state,” Evers said. “I was proud to increase funding for these grants in our last budget, and I am glad to be awarding these funds today to ensure our dairy processors can continue to grow their businesses and consumers across the globe can continue to enjoy high-quality dairy products from America’s dairy land.”

Evers increased the annual funding for DATCP’s dairy processing grants from $200,000 to $400,000 in the 2021-23 biennial budget.

This year, DATCP awarded 19 grants to Wisconsin dairy processors, totaling $400,000. DATCP revealed it received 43 grant requests for more than $1.7 million. Since the DATCP was established in 2014, it has awarded 85 grant proposals, providing $1.7 million in funding.

“Wisconsin’s dairy processors are a critical element of our state’s thriving dairy industry,” said Randy Romanski, secretary for DATCP. “As a national leader in the production of cheese, our processors are constantly seeking new technologies, modernizing and finding new ways to meet the needs of consumers. These grants help processors accomplish those goals.”

The 2022 DATCP Dairy Processor Grant recipients are listed below, along with their planned projects:

• Milk Specialties Global, Fond du Lac, Wis. ($28,000): Partner with more small- to medium-sized cheese plants to provide a consistent and reliable return for whey.

• Muscoda Protein Products, Muscoda, Wis. ($28,000): Pre-treatment study for anaerobic wastewater treatment plant to assist others in the design of future anaerobic digestion of dairy solids.

• Cedar Valley Cheese, Belgium, Wis. ($25,000): Development of a new retail cheese shredding process.

• Door Artisan Cheese, Egg Harbor, Wis. ($25,000): Development of an expanded marketing plan to reach new markets.

• Lynn Dairy, Granton, Wis. ($25,000): Purchase of a cheese belt to increase output and create a less labor-intensive process.

• Westby Co-op Creamery, Westby, Wis. ($25,000): Plant modernization and expansion to utilize more milk and create new products.

• Wisconsin Pride, Mauston, Wis. ($25,000): Facility expansion and installation of a brine system.

• Decatur Swiss Co-op, Brodhead, Wis. ($24,000): Facility expansion to accommodate packaging, storage, cooler space, and an area for technological advancement.

• Renard’s Cheese, Algoma, Wis. ($24,000): Development of a new Factory Equipment Engineer Grant to ease the physical demands of artisan cheese making and increase production capabilities.

• Holland’s Family Cheese, Thorp, Wis. ($22,000): Expansion engineering and planning, including building and equipment designs, site development, financing, and marketing planning.

• Landmark Creamery, Belleville, Wis. ($22,000): Cheese plant expansion to inform the public about agriculture, dairy farming, and cheese making.

• Hill Valley Dairy, East Troy, Wis. ($20,000): Expansion planning to prepare dairy plant for a new facility.

• Specialty Cheese Company, Reeseville, Wis. ($20,000): Development of a reverse osmosis system for low protein whey.

• Wiskerchen Cheese, Auburndale, Wis. ($20,000): Hiring of a bilingual human resources and administrative assistant to streamline communications process with employees and department managers.

• Henning Cheese, Kiel, Wis. ($18,500): Website development to bring the company’s website up-to-date for customers and corporate buyers to assist in increased sales.

• Brunkow Cheese, Darlington, Wis. ($18,500): Facility and process improvements to offer products to larger distributors and wholesalers.

• Alpine Slicing and Cheese, Monroe, Wis. ($15,000): Plant relocation and expansion to meet quality demands and the needs of customers and employees.

• University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Platteville, Wis. ($10,000): Expansion of retail opportunities and technical knowledge for student managers and workers employed by Pioneer Sweets.

• Two Guernsey Girls Creamery, Freedom, Wis. ($5,000): Development of new products and expansion into block cheese production.