COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — A Colbert County dairy farm is getting a major boost thanks to a $1.9 million grant from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI).
The funding, awarded through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program, will help Miller Family Dairy build a new facility to process milk, cheese and butter for local communities.
Miller Family Dairy, which opened in 2020 with just eight cows, began as a raw milk operation. With the new investment, owners Jennilee and her family plan to grow their herd to around 100 cows and expand into pasteurization and value-added dairy products.
“This grant opportunity completely changed everything for us,” said farm owner Jennilee Miller said. “We saw an opportunity to not only expand into value-added dairy but also to support other dairy farmers in the area. According to the Dairy Alliance, only 16 dairy farms remain in Alabama. With our new facility, we hope to be able to change this.”
The new facility will allow the farm to increase production capacity and create job opportunities in the region by sourcing milk from other dairies. Miller says the expansion is designed not only to strengthen her family’s farm, but also to benefit surrounding communities and promote Alabama’s struggling dairy industry.
Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate praised the project, saying programs like RFSI are critical for supporting local producers.
“We are incredibly proud of the RFSI Program and the positive impact it’s having on Alabama’s farmers like Miller Family Dairy,” Pate said. “Programs like RFSI help ensure our farmers have the resources they need to grow and thrive, while connecting more Alabamians with fresh, locally produced products like milk, butter and cheese.”
The USDA’s RFSI initiative focuses on strengthening local and regional food supply chains by funding infrastructure projects that connect producers to markets.
In Alabama, those investments include expanding processing capacity, improving storage and distribution, and creating more direct access for farmers to sell their products.
Construction of the Miller Family Dairy facility is expected to be completed later this year.
Once open, residents will be able to buy fresh milk, cheese, and butter directly from the farm or at area grocery stores.
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