By Katie Spring, Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center is pleased to announce seven recipients of the Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant. Awards range from $16,000 - $40,000, with a total of $225,000 in overall funding, and allow dairy farmers and processors to take actionable steps to improve the safety of dairy products and improve marketability.
Three Vermont businesses are among the grantees:
Maplebrook Farm will purchase a butter extruder and install upgrades to their pasteurizer, allowing them to process and market buttermilk derived from their butter making process. This equipment and upgrades will increase food safety and labor efficiency.
Mt. Mansfield Creamery, LLC will purchase both a portable and stationary bulk tank, along with a milk pump, to improve milk transportation from their farm to their creamery. Moving from milk cans to a bulk tank will increase food safety, labor efficiency, and allow for increased production.
von Trapp Farmstead will purchase new cheese forms and complete a cleaning validation study on the forms to increase food safety, employee safety, and product quality.
Recipients also include farmers and processors in Maine, New York, and Pennsylvania. These grant projects include installing pasteurizers, milk meters, and making creamery upgrades. The Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant is expected to open again in December. Learn more on our website: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/dbic/grants
Current and Upcoming Grants for Dairy Processors Across the Northeast
By Ali Boochever, Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center
As part of an ongoing effort to increase sustainability and resilience of the dairy supply chain across our 11-state region, the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces two open and one upcoming grant for cow, goat, and sheep dairy processors. Find the Request for Applications (RFA) for the grants below, plus our full funding calendar, on our website: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/dbic/grants
Existing Dairy Processor Expansion Grant
With a goal to diversify and strengthen the supply chain for dairy farmers and consumers, this grant offers existing dairy processors across the Northeast funding to acquire specialized equipment needed to increase the processing capacity of regionally produced milk and other activities to support expansion and meet demand.
The RFA for the single-stage Tier 3 application for smaller processors whose volume of milk utilized on an average production day is under 1,000 pounds, is now available. The application period is open until August 24, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET. Awards for Tier 3 will range from $25,000 to $250,000, with a 25% match requirement. Meanwhile, the multi-stage Tier 1 and 2 will invite a subset of pre-applicants to submit full applications.
Dairy Marketing & Branding Services Grant
This grant provides funds for established value-added dairy processors and producer associations to access professional marketing and branding services. Funded projects will increase consumer awareness of products, develop market channels and distribution opportunities to increase product placement, support innovative strategies to increase consumption, and/or increase business revenue. Grant funds will prioritize the grantee hiring a professional marketing/branding contractor to develop strategy and/or content.
Awards will range from $10,000 to $50,000 with a match requirement of 25%. Application is open until June 8th at 2:00 PM ET.
Upcoming Opportunity: Dairy Packaging Innovation Grant
Northeast dairy businesses looking for sustainable product packaging solutions can apply for funding this summer. This program will provide funding to support modernized packaging initiatives that prioritize sustainability, scalability, and marketability.
This grant round will include a two-step application process. Following the review of pre-applications, a subset of applicants will be invited to submit a full application. Awards will range from $75,000 to $350,000 with a 25% (cash or in-kind) match commitment required. Stay tuned for more information coming this summer!
For more information about these grants, contact the NE-DBIC team at agr.dairyinnovation@vermont.gov