By Katie Spring, Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center
Since 2020, the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) has supported the regional dairy sector through grants and research.
With a mission to create resiliency and long-term sustainability for Northeast dairy, these grants help businesses invest in equipment and practices that improve and modernize farms and processing plants and help grow the workforce. These investments are vital – not only for the individual businesses but for consumers and the economy.
Dairy’s Economic Impact
Dairy plays an important role in the regional economy. Across the six New England states, dairy directly contributes $6.3 billion to the economy. That contribution increases to $9.7 billion when indirect contributions are added, such as when a farm purchases tools and equipment from a local hardware store, and induced contributions, such as spending by workers and their households. Dairy’s economic impact means that when dairy businesses do well, they help the strengthen the wider economy, too. Which is why NE-DBIC investments in regional dairy really matter.
NE-DBIC’s Funding Impact
As of January 2026, NE-DBIC has awarded 488 grants with $40.5 million in funds. These include projects focusing on marketing and branding, dairy food safety, dairy product packaging, on-farm milk storage and handling, dairy agritourism, business viability and technical assistance, the goat and sheep dairy supply chain, dairy farm improvement and modernization, and dairy processor modernization and expansion.
166 projects are now complete, representing $8.2 million in grant funds. These completed grant projects have led to over $10 million in new revenues. That’s a 123% return-on-investment. At a time when states across the country are seeing a dramatic decrease in dairy farms, NE-DBIC funding has helped 14 new or beginning farmers start producing dairy.
For existing farmers, these grants represent more than a single improvement. Grantees overwhelmingly report an increase in their quality of life and business, with 88% reporting an increased positive outlook after project completion. Beyond production, NE-DBIC grants also support dairy businesses with marketing and branding, which has helped local dairy products reach over 25,000 market outlets across the region.
Dairy Workforce Development
In recent years, NE-DBIC has heard from the region about the collective need for workforce development investment. While NE-DBIC grant funding has helped maintain 1676 jobs and created 109 new jobs through increased production capacity and opportunities for upskilling, dairy businesses generally continue to struggle to find a reliable workforce.
To further address these issues, NE-DBIC worked with food consultancy KK&P to conduct research and identify priority areas for workforce development.
This led to a $1 million investment in workforce development efforts. This includes funding for Bristol County Agricultural High School in Massachusetts, development of an extended apprenticeship program through the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund, and new micro-credential courses at SUNY-Cobleskill to upskill existing staff and grow the pool of trained employees. While these projects are still underway, initial feedback shows promising outcomes towards strengthening the dairy workforce.
In 2026, NE-DBIC will continue investing in the dairy sector through two key grants:
The Dairy Processor Modernization Grant and the Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant.
Visit the grant calendar and learn more about the NE-DBIC’s impact.
