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About the NE-DBIC

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.


NE-DBIC logo

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: 

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.   

Northeast DBIC Staff

Laura Ginsburg, Center Lead
laura.ginsburg@vermont.gov
(802) 522-2252 

Kathryn Donovan, Regional Programs Manager
kathryn.donovan@vermont.gov
(802) 585-4571

Ben Eldredge, Grants Coordinator
ben.eldredge@vermont.gov
(802) 522-9478

Ali Boochever, Grants Coordinator
ali.boochever@vermont.gov
(802) 261-5740

Katie Spring, Outreach & Content Specialist
katie.spring@vermont.gov
(802) 522-3186

Stay Connected

Funding for the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center is made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grants AM190100XXXXG081, AM200100XXXXG003, 21DBIVT1004-00, and AM21DBIVT1011-00. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.