The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center is pleased to announce the Catalyzing Regional Dairy Workforce Grant Awards.
This grant program is part of the NE-DBIC’s Dairy Workforce Impact Fund. Through this fund, we seek to strengthen the pipeline of new entrants to the dairy sector, build skills and career opportunities, increase worker retention, and decrease barriers to participation in the dairy industry. Prior to this competitive grant round, NE-DBIC directly funded three existing workforce programs: The Center of Dairy Excellence’s Dairy Herd Manager Apprenticeship Program, Cornell’s Agricultural Supervisory Leadership Program, and the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund’s Extended Alumni Apprenticeship Program.
The Catalyzing Regional Dairy Workforce Grant builds upon these directed funds with competitive grants.
Projects from this grant will support the development, expansion, and operations of existing and shovel-ready workforce programs for current and potential employees of dairy farms and dairy processors. These projects include equipment for a high school dairy farm program, funding for extended apprenticeships, expanding workforce training at universities, and more.
Eight dairy businesses from across four states were selected for awards. Individual award amounts will range from $45,000 to $100,000 with a total of $705,132.87 in overall funding.
The following businesses have been selected for awards:
Bristol County High School, MA – $75,000 to purchase equipment for use in their high school dairy farm program that will improve feeding efficiencies, manure management, herd health, and barn ventilation. The grant funded equipment will support student education and engagement in new dairy technologies.
Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture & the Environment, ME – $100,000 to restructure the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program in the Northeast into a coordinated regional model. Moving from a state-specific to a regional approach will strengthen program sustainability, broaden access, and provide more robust support for mentors and apprentices. Wolfe’s Neck Center led the project and collaborate with PASA, UVM, and Cornell. This program will offer regionally tailored instruction essential to Northeast dairy farming.
University of New Hampshire, NH – $99,895.63 to enhance existing programs and introduce new workshops to offer comprehensive training across all key areas of dairy farming. Topics will include reproduction, feed production and nutrition, animal health, handling practices, milk quality, and small ruminant dairy production.
Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund, NY – $99,908.24 to fund 10 month-long apprenticeships across the Northeast. Program alumni will form the foundation for a New York State Registered Apprenticeship, which ASLF will begin formalizing during the grant period through curriculum development and registration work. This program will strengthen both entry-level access and long-term retention in the regional dairy workforce.
SUNY Cobleskill / Institute for Rural Vitality, NY – $99,989 to expand their existing workforce training and offer a new value-added dairy product development micro-credential. This will help bring additional income to dairy producers in the Mohawk Valley region and provide workforce development training for the dairy processing industry.
Upstate Niagara Cooperative, NY – $100,000 to address labor shortages through a scalable, Cooperative-led dual apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship workforce development model. Apprentices will receive structured training to help them advance into management roles and gain access to clear career paths. This program will incorporate formal change management processes to help individuals and organizations effectively navigate transitions.
Cabot Creamery Cooperative, VT – $85,340 to pilot a pre-apprenticeship program focused on dairy processing operator training based on the Community College of Vermont’s Certified Production Technician program. The program will also serve to upskill existing employees to prepare them for career growth. Additionally, through an existing partnership with Lyndon Institute, they will demonstrate the ability to construct a multi-pathway approach to the recruitment and retention of new dairy processing employees from Vermont’s most rural and underserved communities.
Milk with Dignity Standard Council, VT – $60,000 to expand the reach of worker health and safety trainings on over 250 dairy farms. This program will increase trainings for both Spanish-speaking dairy workers and farm owners, with a focus on animal handling safety, chemical handling safety, access to personal protective equipment, and more.
