About the NE-DBIC

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.

Hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, the NE-DBIC funds the development of direct technical assistance, contracts, and grants that benefit dairy businesses, including niche dairy products such as specialty cheese and other products derived from cow, goat, and sheep milk.

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.

assortment of cheeses on white wooden table and pale blue table cloth

To date, $45.8 million has been awarded to the NE-DBIC for projects extending through 2026.

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.

With a specific focus on regional dairy, the USDA selected four sites across the country to be regional hosts for the initiative:

Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, hosted by Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets – Northeast region
Dairy Business Innovation Alliance, hosted by Center for Dairy Research (CDR) and the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) – Midwest region
Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, hosted by University of Tennessee – Southeast region
Pacific Coast Coalition, hosted by California State University, Fresno – West region