Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center

Tue, 04/11/2023 - 12:00

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the Dairy Marketing and Branding Services Grant Program. This grant will provide funds grants for established value-added dairy processors and producer associations to access professional marketing and branding services to elevate value-added dairy businesses. Projects funded by this grant will increase the exposure and promotion of regionally produced dairy products guided by marketing/branding professionals. 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 revenues. Additionally, up to 25% of the grant funds may be used to implement the strategy and/or content developed by the contractor.

Licensed dairy processors and producer associations from the Northeast are invited to apply. The Northeast region, for the purposes of NE-DBIC programs, includes the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Thu, 04/13/2023 - 12:00

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the Existing Dairy Processor Expansion Grant program to address the significant need for investment in processing infrastructure in the Northeast. This grant will only fund existing dairy processing facilities located in the Northeast region with a focus on expanding utilization of regionally sourced milk, dairy components, and/or dairy mix, and diversifying the supply chain.

Projects funded through this grant will focus primarily on acquiring specialized equipment needed to increase processing capacity through volume expansion and existing product line expansion. Additional activities related to training, marketing, or supply chain logistics that directly support increased production capacity may be included.

Grants are available to applicants in all Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Multiple tiers of grant funding ranges will be available to processors at a variety of sizes. Processors may apply in one of three grant tiers based on their scale. Tier 3 Request for Application will be available in March 2023.

In response to dairy stakeholder feedback, the tiers and eligibility have been clarified and adjusted to address to dairy processor circumstances more accurately.

This RFA is for Tier 3 projects only.

Contract Overview

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) seeks a contractor to conduct research and develop pilot program recommendations regarding a regional workforce development strategy to support employment across the Northeast regional dairy supply chain. This research shall include identification and discussion of existing successful programs, coordination and engagement with regional workforce organizations, and the development of the foundation for a pilot program.

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center is one of four regional USDA Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBII) in the nation.    

Thu, 02/16/2023 - 12:00

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the Existing Dairy Processor Expansion Grant program to address the significant need for investment in processing infrastructure in the Northeast. This grant will only fund existing dairy processing facilities located in the Northeast region with a focus on expanding utilization of regionally sourced milk, dairy components, and/or dairy mix, and diversifying the supply chain.

Projects funded through this grant will focus primarily on acquiring specialized equipment needed to increase processing capacity through volume expansion and existing product line expansion. Additional activities related to training, marketing, or supply chain logistics that directly support increased production capacity may be included.

Grants are available to applicants in all Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Multiple tiers of grant funding ranges will be available to processors at a variety of sizes. Processors may apply in one of three grant tiers based on their scale. Tier 3 Request for Application will be available in March 2023.

In response to dairy stakeholder feedback, the tiers and eligibility have been clarified and adjusted to address to dairy processor circumstances more accurately.

This Pre-Application RFA is for Tier & Tier 2 projects only.

Tue, 01/10/2023 - 12:00

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the Dairy Processing Research & Development Innovation Grant program. This grant will provide funds for dairy processors, dairy producer associations, and educational institutions to conduct research and development projects that support innovation for Northeast dairy processors across a variety of scales. Projects funded through this program will support dairy processors in gaining knowledge that will allow them to make informed, long-term business investments with positive environmental and/or economic impacts.

Grants are available to applicants in all 11 Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

December 23, 2022

With funding from the NE-DBIC Food Safety & Certification Grant, Berle Farm invested in on-farm facilities and supplies to become Interstate Milk Shipping (IMS) lab-certified.