Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center

Have you been ruminating ?? ?? ?? on your social media? Are you ready to whip up?? a new logo or website? The NE-DBIC Marketing & Branding Services Grant is back to help! Applications open March 25. Businesses can apply for $10,000 - $50,000 to hire marketing professionals to help enhance their branding, boost their messaging, and expand their markets. Established dairy brands, producer associations, and processors are eligible. Past recipients have used funds to: * Overhaul their websites * Launch new social media campaigns * Rebrand their packaging * Educate consumers with videos * ...and more! Learn more on our website: https://lnkd.in/e2nEbzis #dairyinnovation #dairyprocessing #marketing #branding

Two Vermont goat dairies are taking a new approach to milking thanks to a Dairy Innovation & Alternative Management Grant ?? After an 18-month study funded by NE-DBIC, Blue Ledge Farm and Tup's Crossing Farm have implemented extended lactation in their goat herds. What does that mean? More milk during winter months, less stress for goats and farmers alike, and a steadier year-round pace on the farm. Learn all about their project on our blog: https://lnkd.in/eZFtpbS4 #goatdairy #dairyinnovation #artisancheese

We're pleased to announce the Innovation in Dairy Processing & Packaging Grant Awards. Four dairy businesses from across three states were selected for awards. Each project seeks to have regional impacts that may benefit the Northeast dairy sector through access to novel environmentally friendly packaging, and new R&D capabilities. Individual award amounts will range from $145,600 to $350,000 with a total of $895,838 in overall funding. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e_A_9h3J #dairyindustry #dairyprocessing #dairypackaging

Applications are open for the NE-DBIC Dairy Co-Packing Grant ?? ?? ?? ?? Eligible applicants across 11 Northeast states can submit projects for up to $150,000 that launch, enhance, or scale co-packing agreements. Applications will be open through April 10 at 2 PM. Get all the details on our website: https://lnkd.in/e3ek5uGs #dairyprocessing #dairyinnovation

Have you heard of the Grow-NY competition?! Applications are open now - check it out for a chance to receive business mentorship, development support, and to compete for $1 million top prize:

Ready to level up your food safety to access bigger markets, improve your marketability, or improve biosecurity? Or maybe you want to enhance your food safety plans or expand staff training? The NE-DBIC Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant is open now for your projects! Established dairy farms, processors, brands and producer associations can now apply for up to $75,000 to improve food safety beyond the baseline for licensing or sales. Example eligible projects include: ?? Audits and related activities, including pre-audit consultations and HACCP audits. ?? Working with technical assistance to develop, implement, or improve monitoring programs like FSMA, PCQI, SQF, biosecurity plans, or more. ??? Infrastructure improvements that reduce barriers to maintaining food safety, through automation, mechanization, or hazard-reduction equipment. ???? Upskilling workers or establishing food safety education and resources. ?? Testing costs as part of a new protocol or mitigation of food safety issues. Applications are open now through April 24, 2025! Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/erQFkREk

You may have heard that our USDA funding was frozen last week. Good news came today - funding is?restored and flowing again! That means that dairy farmers and processors who have signed agreements will be able to be reimbursed for the projects that are strengthening the dairy sector across the region and the country. AND NE-DBIC will continue moving forward with our current and upcoming grant opportunities. Check out the grants calendar on our website: https://lnkd.in/eKHCYSQJ And celebrate this funding with a good chunk of cheese, extra scoop of ice cream, or a cold glass of milk ?? #dairyfarming?#dairyprocessing

Since the grant project, Sweet Rowen has seen a 17% growth in sales. “It’s very exciting to have these new materials that make us more marketable to new accounts. We’ve already succeeded in securing new accounts by presenting them with our new materials.” Learn how NE-DBIC funding helped Sweet Rowen Farmstead transform their marketing and branding, break into new markets, and reach new customers across the region: https://lnkd.in/eMKtKPzb

We're pleased to announce the On-Farm Milk Storage & Handling Grant Awards. This is one of our most competitive grant programs, and we had 57 dairies apply for funding, with a total ask of $2,260,833. Of the applicants, 38 dairy businesses from across 8 states were selected for awards. Individual award amounts will range from $15,000 to $50,000 with a total of $1,486,046 in overall funding. Head to our website to see the full list of awardees: https://lnkd.in/ewJS5kCU

Have you heard about the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund Legacy Apprenticeships? ???????? Offered exclusively to ASLF alumni, these project-based experiences offer a deeper and broader view of the world of sustainable agriculture. The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center’s Workforce Development Grant allows ASLF to support 4 extended apprenticeships in the Northeast at Jasper Hill Farm, Talbott & Arding Cheese and Provisions, and Blackeyed Susan Sheep Dairy. Learn more about the ASLF Legacy Apprenticeships here: https://lnkd.in/eQzrU7kK #sustainableagriculture #careersinfarming