Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association applauds investments of $33.6 million in rural road improvement projects benefiting Wisconsin dairy businesses. The funding is part of the first $50 million round awarded through the new Agricultural Roads Improvement Program. ARIP is a $150 million state budget initiative.
“Investing in Wisconsin’s rural roads is critical for the long-term strength, stability, and success of our dairy processing industry,” says WCMA Senior Director of Programs & Policy Rebekah Sweeney.
Processors directly benefiting from ARIP awards include Cedar Valley Cheese of Belgium; Heartisan Foods-North Country Packaging of Almena; Mullins Cheese of Knowlton; Nasonville Dairy of Marshfield; Pagel’s Ponderosa of Kewaunee; and Pine River Pre-Pack of Newton.
Dairy farmers shipping milk to Eau Galle Cheese of Durand; Foremost Farms USA of Middleton; Grande Cheese Company of Fond du Lac; and Prairie Farms Dairy of West Allis, among others, also secured road aid through the program.
The application period for the remaining $100 million in ARIP funding will open in August.
Dairy manufacturers and processors can support their local governments’ applications. They can do this by providing essential information about their use of local agricultural roads and the potential business impacts of road improvements. Information on eligibility and simple instructions will be available at WisCheeseMakers.org/Grants when the application period opens.
