Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Grants

The 2027 Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin (BLBW) application period opened on October 1, 2026. Navigate to the Request for Proposals and Application. Completed grant applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on November 4, 2026. DATCP will award up to $200,000 total in BLBW grant funding in 2026.

An informational session and workshop will be hosted by the Vernon Economic Development Association at the Food Enterprise Center at 1201 N. Main Street, Viroqua, WI 54665, on October 13, 2026, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin (BLBW) competitive grant program is designed to strengthen Wisconsin’s agricultural and food industries by working to reduce the marketing, distribution, and processing hurdles that impede the expansion of sales of Wisconsin’s food products to local purchasers. Keeping food dollars in Wisconsin communities supports local businesses, improves farm incomes, and creates jobs.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) administers the grants, which can help farms and business more efficiently process, market, and distribute food in local stores, schools, and institutions.

The maximum award for each project is $50,000, and grant applicants must provide a cash or in-kind match of at least 50% of the total project budget. Generally, qualified applicants are individuals, groups, or businesses involved in Wisconsin production agriculture, food processing, food distribution, food warehousing, retail food establishments, or agricultural tourism operations. Proposals can include individual projects, collaborations, or partnerships.

Since its inception in 2008, 644 applicants have requested more than $22 million total in Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grant funding, and the program has funded 134 projects totaling over $3.42 million. Previous grant recipients have generated over $15.1 million in new local food sales, created and retained more than 608 jobs, and benefited more than 5,700 producers and 5,700 markets.