The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) awarded $1.48 million in grants to dairy processors across Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont to modernize equipment, improve efficiency, and boost production.
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC), a regional organization dedicated to enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of the dairy sector in the United States, has announced $1.48 million in Dairy Processor Modernization Grants. These funds will benefit processors in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, aiming to modernize production facilities and promote long-term business growth.
The announcement, made on November 26, 2024, highlighted that the grants, ranging from $62,000 to $350,000, would focus on upgrading equipment to improve operational efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance workplace conditions. Among the funded projects are specialized installations like whipped cream cheese mixers, precision weight cheese cutters, and rotary filler-sealers.
Grant Recipients and Projects
To address varying operational scales, the NE-DBIC categorized applicants into two tiers based on their milk utilization per production day.
Tier 1 Recipients
- Franklin Foods, Vermont: Awarded $123,066 for a whipped cream cheese mixer, reducing product loss and enhancing quality.
- HP Hood, Massachusetts: Received $350,000 for a fruit mixing unit to separate yogurt and cottage cheese production, optimizing labor efficiency and increasing output.
- King Brothers Dairy, New York: Secured $200,000 for modernized equipment to streamline production, boosting capacity and safety.
- Ronnybrook Farm Dairy, New York: Granted $62,000 for glycol chillers, improving pasteurization and cooling processes for cultured products.
Tier 2 Recipients
- All Star Specialties, New York: Awarded $147,367.50 for ice cream production upgrades, doubling capacity while reducing energy costs.
- Eden Valley Creamery, New York: Received $112,000 to expand cheese production with new equipment, enabling a 100% increase in output.
- Goat Rodeo Farm & Dairy, Pennsylvania: Secured $81,216 for a precision weight cheese cutter to standardize pre-cut cheese production, reducing costs and waste.
- Lively Run Goat Dairy, New York: Granted $150,000 for cheese-aging equipment upgrades, more than doubling production capacity.
- New City Ice Cream, Massachusetts: Awarded $150,000 for larger commercial equipment to expand production, reduce costs, and create new jobs.
- Sweet Cow Yogurt, Vermont: Received $101,000 to double production capacity, eliminate plastic lids, and improve employee working conditions.
Strengthening the Dairy Industry
This funding is expected to significantly boost the competitiveness of the Northeast dairy industry. By modernizing production processes, the grants aim to help processors meet rising consumer demand while improving sustainability and operational efficiency.
The NE-DBIC’s commitment to fostering innovation through targeted investments underscores its role in driving resilience and growth within the dairy sector in the northeastern United States.