The NE-DBIC has a new website: https://nedairyinnovation.com/
Please visit the new site for on-going updates to our grants, resources, and blog posts.
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center is one of four regional USDA Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBII) in the nation.
Established as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative was created to support dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing and distribution of dairy products. With a specific focus on regional dairy, the USDA selected four sites across the country to be regional hosts for the initiative:
- Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, hosted by Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets – Northeast region
- Dairy Business Innovation Alliance, hosted by Center for Dairy Research (CDR) and the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) - Midwest region
- Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, hosted by University of Tennessee – Southeast region
- Pacific Coast Coalition, hosted by California State University, Fresno – West region
DBI Initiatives provide direct technical assistance and grants to dairy businesses, including niche dairy products, such as specialty cheese and other products derived from cow, goat, and sheep milk.
To date, $45.8 million has been awarded to the NE-DBIC for projects extending through 2026.
More than half of all federal funding awarded for the NE-DBIC is granted directly to dairy businesses. Past and current projects have offered health and safety training, marketing strategies, grazing transition support, technical assistance, community networks, and industry training to project recipients and interested region constituents.
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission is to create resiliency and long-term sustainability for Northeast dairy businesses.
We envision a regional dairy system where dairy farms and processors enjoy viable and healthy businesses that benefit the land, livestock, community, and our regional economy.