Innovation in Dairy Processing and Packaging Grant

Grant Overview 

This grant opportunity is currently closed.

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the Innovation in Dairy Processing and Packaging Grant program. This grant will provide funds for dairy processors, dairy producer associations, packaging manufacturers, supply chain businesses, educational research institutions, and technical assistance providers to support innovation for Northeast dairy processors across a variety of scales.  

Projects funded through this program will help dairy processors gain knowledge or implement systems that support informed, long-term business investments with beneficial environmental and/or economic impacts. Funded projects will be centered on developing alternatives to current industry standards through projects that are applicable, scalable, and replicable to small- or mid-sized Northeast dairy processors. 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. 

Competitive projects should aim to research and develop and/or implement products, processes, or technologies that are novel or uncommon and address issues that are relevant to more than one Northeast processor, rather than solely benefiting the applicant’s business. Projects focused on research, development, and analysis must have outcomes that can be implemented or adopted, and the grantee must show commitment to implementation stemming from research funding. Projects ready for implementation must demonstrate that a robust research and development phase has already taken place.   

Projects funded through this grant must address at least one of the following areas: 

  1. Packaging initiatives that prioritize sustainability, scalability, and marketability of packaging solutions for small and mid-sized processors. Packaging projects may address topics such as packaging lifecycle analysis, packaging materials, costs of conversion, supply chain logistics, research and development, packaging design, processor packaging changeovers, and infrastructure upgrades.  
  2. Novel processing solutions such as innovation in sourcing, product development, alternative production solutions, distribution and supply chain logistics, operations, workforce development or employee welfare, and marketing or consumer experience. 
  3. Projects that increase collaboration across the dairy sector or increase partnerships between sectors to ensure the greatest number of dairy businesses benefit.  

All projects are required to include an educational/knowledge sharing component for the regional dairy industry. This may be in the form of conference presentations, on-site tours or workshops, published articles or white papers, company webpages with information or guides, etc. This does not preclude the ability for the grantee to acquire patent protections for technologies developed within this grant project.

Grants will range from $75,000 to $350,000 with a 25% (cash or in-kind) match commitment required.   

Total funds available: $1,500,000.  

Eligibility 

Applicants eligible for these funds must fall into at least one of the following categories: 

  1. Licensed dairy processors that currently meets each of the following requirements:  
    • Transform raw fluid milk, dairy components, or dairy mix into an edible product meant for human consumption.  
    • Are licensed in a way that their dairy products can be sold across state lines. 
    • Are headquartered or based in the Northeast. 
    • Source or produce milk or dairy components from within the Northeast. 
    • Manufacture products within the Northeast.  
  2. Dairy producer association/dairy councils that represent and promote dairy products and dairy businesses of the Northeast. For the purposes of this grant a producer association group, also known as a trade association, industry trade group, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization that was founded and is funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry related to the dairy industry.  
    •  Associations receiving the majority of their funds from producer check-off dollars are not eligible. 
  3. Packaging manufacturers that partner with at least one Northeast dairy processor, as defined above. Manufacturers are not required to be based in the Northeast, though the projects must clearly benefit Northeast dairy processors.  
  4. Supply chain businesses (distributors, aggregators, retailers, etc.) that partner with at least one dairy processor, as defined above. Applicant businesses must meet each of the following requirements:  
    • Are headquartered or based in the Northeast. 
    • Source dairy products within the Northeast. 
    • Purchase from and sell to businesses in the Northeast.  
  5. Educational/research institutions that partner with at least one dairy processor, as defined above. These applicants are not required to be based in the Northeast, though the projects must clearly benefit Northeast dairy processors. 
  6. Technical assistance providers (e.g., university extension or viability organizations) are eligible to apply if they meet each of the following requirements:  
    • The group of dairy processors they will work with is clearly defined in the application. 
    • The businesses receiving services are located in the Northeast.  

How to Apply 

  • Once it is released, review the full Request for Applications (RFA) for the complete details on eligible projects/applicants and the application process. Register in WebGrants (may take up to two business days).
  • Complete your application in WebGrants using our Application Guide. This grant opportunity is currently closed.
  • Applicants who do not already have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov are strongly encouraged to start this process during the application period to ensure a timely start to their grant, if awarded.  

Previous Rounds

Review the 2024 Innovation in Dairy Processing and Packaging Request for Applications (RFA) for full details on the previous round of this grant. 

Have a Question about this Grant? 

Have a question? Contact Kathryn Donovan: kathryn.donovan@vermont.gov | (802) 585-4571

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