MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) today applauded members of Wisconsin’s Joint Finance Committee, along with Governor Tony Evers, Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester), Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) and Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton), who today advanced a budget deal including $150 million in support for the much-needed Agricultural Roads Improvement Program.
“Wisconsin’s investments in rural road infrastructure make a meaningful difference—not just for dairy processors, but for the communities they anchor. These dollars strengthen our supply chain and make our roads safer,” said WCMA Senior Director of Programs & Policy Rebekah Sweeney. “We are grateful for the support of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, particularly Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Representative Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) for their consistent championship of the program, and for the collaboration and support of Wisconsin Department of Transportation leaders to make these critical grants possible.”
The 2023-25 Wisconsin State Budget included $150 million in ARIP funding. Across two awards cycles, a total of $111.4 million went to projects which, at least in part, benefited Wisconsin dairy businesses. Dairy processors directly benefiting from ARIP awards in the past biennium include Agropur, Bel Brands, Burnett Dairy, Cedar Valley Cheese, Chalet Cheese Cooperative, Decatur Dairy, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Gilman Cheese, Heartisan Foods-North Country Packaging, Integrity Cheese Packaging, K&K Cheese, LaGrander’s Hillside Dairy, Mullins Cheese, Pagel’s Ponderosa, Pasture Pride Cheese, Pine River Pre-Pack, Renard’s Cheese, Revela Foods, Springside Cheese, and Two Guernsey Girls Creamery.
WCMA has consistently advocated alongside partners from the Wisconsin Ag Coalition, including Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and Dairy Business Association, for ARIP’s continued funding.
Dairy processors can visit WisCheeseMakers.org/Grants for more information on ARIP and other funding opportunities.
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