*Below is an introduction and funding message from a new staff member of the NE-NBIC. If you would like to pursue either of these opportunities, we are happy to help. Just let us know. Good luck! Ron   

Hello All, 

I’m the new Outreach & Content Specialist at the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) and am looking forward to connecting with you, sharing regional events, dairy funding and contractor opportunities, and highlighting stories of dairy farms and producers across our 11-state NE region which includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.  

Please share with your networks in dairy that the new Dairy Innovation & Alternative Management Grant has been released by the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center:

Dairy Farm Innovation & Alternative Management Grant 

This grant provides funds to support the implementation of community- and climate-forward production strategies. Projects funded through this grant program should take a whole farm system approach and increase collaboration with other farms or dairy sector stakeholders.   

Projects may address improvements in topics such as, but are in no way limited to, creating new models for collaborative/cooperative milk production, increased new and young farmer engagement, alternative business ownership/management models, development of green technologies, farm-scale appropriate technology improvements, or creating a culture of continuous improvement. 

Grants available of $15,000 to $75,000 with a 25% (cash or in-kind) match commitment required. 

The Request for Applications (RFA) is now available. 

Application period: December 1, 2022 - February 2, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET. Open to dairy farmers, producer associations, and technical service providers. 

Additionally, the current round of the Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant is open now: 

Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant 

This grant will provide dairy farmers, processors, and/or producer associations with funds needed to take actionable steps to improve the safety of dairy products. Projects funded through this program will support increased production safety standards with the goal of accessing new markets. Projects that increase marketability of dairy products will be prioritized. Activities covered by this grant include accessing technical assistance, audits, food safety plan development, training, testing fees, and certain infrastructure upgrades. 

 
Grants available of $10,000 - $40,000 with a 25% (cash or in-kind) match commitment required. 

Application deadline: January 19, 2023 

The NE-DBIC is seeking additional grant reviewers who represent the dairy supply chain across an 11-state region.  Please fill out this Reviewer Interest Form if you’d like to be part of the grant review process.

Thank you,

Katie Spring (she/her) 

NE-DBIC Outreach & Content Specialist| Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center

116 State St., Montpelier Vermont 05602-2901 | Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets 

Tel: 802-522-3186