Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC)

Applications for this grant will open in October (2026). You may refer to the 2025 Farm Improvement & Modernization Request for Applications (RFA), but please note changes may be made to this program for 2026.

Beth Falk

Ali Boochever

The Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant will fund projects that help dairy farmers improve their operations for&#x2004;long-term success. Eligible projects may modernize outdated systems or introduce innovative solutions to improve farm viability, reduce climate impacts, improve milk quality or value, improve worker conditions, and strengthen the farm's ability to respond to challenges. Competitive projects will take a strategic, systems-level approach, involve expert guidance such as farm planners or technical assistance providers, and may benefit individual farms or groups of farms. Projects that only replace old equipment without broader improvements to farm systems are not eligible.



The Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant will fund projects that help dairy farmers improve their operations for long-term success. Eligible projects may modernize outdated systems or introduce innovative solutions to improve farm viability, reduce climate impacts, improve milk quality or value, improve worker conditions, and strengthen the farm's ability to respond to challenges. Competitive projects will take a strategic, systems-level approach, involve expert guidance such as farm planners or technical assistance providers, and may benefit individual farms or groups of farms. Projects that only replace old equipment without broader improvements to farm systems are not eligible.

Eligible applicants include dairy farmers, producer associations or technical service providers applying on behalf of groups of farmers, and milk buyers focusing on on-farm milk production or transfer. Grants are available to applicants in all 11 Northeast states served by NE-DBIC: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Applicants must be one or more of the following: headquartered or based in the Northeast; produce milk within the Northeast; are licensed dairy operations in compliance with all required state and/or federal standards; are not primarily selling raw fluid milk for direct human consumption; or producer associations that represent, support, or promote dairy products originating from the Northeast.

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

Buildings

Construction

Fencing

Greenhouse

High Tunnel

HVAC

Irrigation

Lighting

Repairs

Storage

Awards will range from $15,000 – $100,000 with a 25% in-kind and/or cash match contribution required. Total funds available: $1,000,000. This year the program will have a two-stage application.

Applications for this grant opportunity are closed. When open, the process is:

1. Review the full Request for Applications (RFA) for complete details on eligible projects/applicants and the full application process.
2. Register in WebGrants at https://agriculturegrants.vermont.gov/ (registration may take up to two business days; allow 1–2 business days before you can log in to start an application).
3. Complete your application in WebGrants using NE-DBIC's Application Guide (https://nedairyinnovation.com/resources/applicants-recipients/).

Applications require a project budget, project partners, Letters of Commitment and Support, and supporting documentation. Applicants who do not already have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov are strongly encouraged to start that process during the application period to ensure a timely start to their grant if awarded. Program questions: Ben Eldredge, Grant Program Manager, ben.eldredge@vermont.gov, (802) 522-9478, or book an appointment to talk (https://outlook.office365.com/bookwithme/user/de4f806b01054dc88b075990758c62ff@vermont.gov?anonymous&ep=plink). WebGrants technical help: Maggie Ericksen, maggie.ericksen@vermont.gov, (802) 480-1268. Support is generally available Monday–Friday, 7:45 AM – 4:30 PM ET.

NE-DBIC General Inquiries

General Questions & Grant Support

Ben Eldredge

Grants Coordinator

Maggie Ericksen

Grants & Contracts Specialist (WebGrants technical help)

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant program to&#x2004;provide grants for dairy farmers, processors, dairy brands, and/or producer associations to take actionable steps to improve the safety of dairy products. The program may address biosecurity or food safety, including written plan development, training, technical assistance, certain infrastructure improvements, special testing costs, and audits or certifications.


The grant is intended for dairy businesses that are already meeting baseline food safety and/or biosecurity standards to take steps to further reduce risks or meet standards beyond those required, such as third-party audits or other certifications. Projects can also focus on food safety or biosecurity improvements that allow for increased market access or improved marketability of products. The grant can be used for training on food safety or biosecurity, getting expert help or technical assistance, creating or improving food safety plans and programs, preparing for and completing audits and certifications, and improving facilities and equipment to reduce risk.


This grant is not for production or processing start-up, nor should it be used for ongoing costs associated with standard food safety compliance, such as routine testing or training or repair of facilities or equipment. Applicants must be able to show that they are already meeting baseline food safety standards for their current markets. Projects that increase marketability of dairy products will be prioritized, as will projects that improve food safety or biosecurity for multiple businesses.


**Status:** Applications for this grant opportunity are closed.



The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant program to provide grants for dairy farmers, processors, dairy brands, and/or producer associations to take actionable steps to improve the safety of dairy products. The program may address biosecurity or food safety, including written plan development, training, technical assistance, certain infrastructure improvements, special testing costs, and audits or certifications.

The grant is intended for dairy businesses that are already meeting baseline food safety and/or biosecurity standards to take steps to further reduce risks or meet standards beyond those required, such as third-party audits or other certifications. Projects can also focus on food safety or biosecurity improvements that allow for increased market access or improved marketability of products. The grant can be used for training on food safety or biosecurity, getting expert help or technical assistance, creating or improving food safety plans and programs, preparing for and completing audits and certifications, and improving facilities and equipment to reduce risk.

This grant is not for production or processing start-up, nor should it be used for ongoing costs associated with standard food safety compliance, such as routine testing or training or repair of facilities or equipment. Applicants must be able to show that they are already meeting baseline food safety standards for their current markets. Projects that increase marketability of dairy products will be prioritized, as will projects that improve food safety or biosecurity for multiple businesses.

Status: Applications for this grant opportunity are closed.

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

1. Dairy farmers (producers) that are headquartered or based in the Northeast; produce milk within the Northeast; and are licensed dairy operations in compliance with all required state and federal standards.
2. Dairy processors that transform raw fluid milk, dairy components, or dairy mix into an edible product meant for human consumption; are headquartered or based in the Northeast; source or produce milk or dairy components from within the Northeast; manufacture products within the Northeast; and are currently licensed as a dairy processor either in a way that their dairy products can be sold across state lines, or to sell within their own state where the project will move them toward interstate licensing.
3. Dairy brands that market Northeast dairy products produced by a licensed dairy processor under a co-packing or other arrangement — a business that develops and markets dairy products but may not operate its own processing facilities, owning the rights to its products' recipes, branding, and distribution. Eligible if the project primarily benefits at least one dairy product for human consumption produced by an eligible Northeast processor, and a Letter of Commitment from the partner processor is included. White-label retailers who rebrand another company's products without owning exclusive rights are not eligible.
4. Producer associations that represent, support, or promote dairy products originating from the Northeast. Eligible if the project will benefit multiple Northeast dairy producers or processors; at least two Letters of Commitment or Support from benefiting dairy producers or processors are included; and the association does not receive the majority of its funds from producer check-off dollars.

Grants are available to applicants in all 11 Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Dairy

Butter

Cheese

Milk

Yogurt

Cow Milk

Goat Milk

- Program page: https://nedairyinnovation.com/grants/dairy-food-safety-certification/
- Full 2025 RFA: https://nedairyinnovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/NE-DBIC-Dairy-Food-Safety-and-Certificaiton-FY25-RFA-1.pdf
- Resources for Grant Applicants and Recipients (WebGrants application guide): https://nedairyinnovation.com/resources/applicants-recipients/
- NE-DBIC grants index and funding calendar: https://nedairyinnovation.com/grants/

Certified Organic

Public Health

Compliance

Marketing

Conservation

Research

Labor

- Grants range from $10,000 to $75,000
- A 25% (cash and/or in-kind) match commitment is required
- Available funds: $525,000
- Grant fund disbursement: funds are distributed over three payments across the project. Unless otherwise arranged with the grant program manager, the default structure is 40% of grant funds upfront, 40% mid-project, and 20% once the grant is complete. NE-DBIC grants are deliverable-based — claims for payment can be submitted when outcomes related to grant activities are completed.
- Project length: 6–12 months depending on the applicant's needs. Pre-award costs may be available with permission from the NE-DBIC grant program manager.
- Key dates (2025 round): RFA released February 11, 2025; application period opened February 27, 2025; application closed April 24, 2025 at 2:00 PM ET; applicants notified of award status early June 2025; estimated grant start July 2025; interim report due November 2025 – January 2026 (project-dependent); project end date January – July 2026 (project-dependent); final report due February – August 2026 (project-dependent).
- Funding source: the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, made possible by USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) award AM23DBIVT1018-00. NE-DBIC is hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) and is one of four USDA-AMS Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives in the nation; since its inception in 2019 it has received $53 million to support Northeast projects.

This grant is currently closed. The most recent guidance stated it was expected to open again in Summer 2025; sign up for the NE-DBIC monthly newsletter for future announcements.

The NE-DBIC Dairy Processor Modernization Grant supports dairy processors in modernizing their facilities by installing specialized equipment (for example, a whipped cream cheese mixer, a precision weight cheese cutter, a vat pasteurizer, and a rotary filler-sealer). Equipment investments aim to increase production, improve working conditions, and reduce waste. Applicants are divided into two tiers based on average daily milk utilization.



Dairy processors in the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) region are eligible. Recent awardees were located in Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. Applicants are divided into two tiers based on average daily milk utilization.

Individual awards range from $62,000 to $350,000, with $1,476,649.50 in total funding available across the program.

Applications for this grant opportunity are currently closed. When open, the process is:

1. Review the full Dairy Product Trade Show Assistance Grant Request for Applications (RFA) for complete details on eligible projects/applicants and the full application process.
2. Register in WebGrants at https://agriculturegrants.vermont.gov/ (registration may take up to two business days).
3. Complete your application in WebGrants using NE-DBIC's Application Guide (https://nedairyinnovation.com/resources/applicants-recipients/).

Applicants who do not already have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov are strongly encouraged to start that process during the application period to ensure a timely start to their grant if awarded; there are currently significant delays. Program questions: Ali Boochever, ali.boochever@vermont.gov, (802) 261-5740. WebGrants technical assistance: Rebecca Brockett, rebecca.brockett@vermont.gov, (802) 636-7016. Support is generally available Monday–Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM ET.

Rebecca Brockett

Contracts & Grants Administrator (WebGrants technical assistance)

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the Dairy Product Trade Show Assistance Grant program. This grant is open to dairy processors and/or producer associations seeking to exhibit and sell value-added dairy products at domestic and/or international business-to-business trade shows. It supports established value-added dairy processor businesses and producer associations in increasing exposure and promotion of&#x2004;their regionally produced dairy products.


Grant funds cover the cost of attending trade shows including registration, travel, costs of product samples, production and distribution of sell-sheets and other marketing materials, professional branding and design services, trade show booth set-up, and more. Applicants may exhibit at up to five regional and/or international business-to-business trade shows of their choosing, and must not have exhibited at the proposed trade shows more than five times previously.


**Status:** This grant opportunity is currently closed.



The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the Dairy Product Trade Show Assistance Grant program. This grant is open to dairy processors and/or producer associations seeking to exhibit and sell value-added dairy products at domestic and/or international business-to-business trade shows. It supports established value-added dairy processor businesses and producer associations in increasing exposure and promotion of their regionally produced dairy products.

Grant funds cover the cost of attending trade shows including registration, travel, costs of product samples, production and distribution of sell-sheets and other marketing materials, professional branding and design services, trade show booth set-up, and more. Applicants may exhibit at up to five regional and/or international business-to-business trade shows of their choosing, and must not have exhibited at the proposed trade shows more than five times previously.

Status: This grant opportunity is currently closed.

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

1. Dairy processor that currently transforms raw milk into an edible product and is licensed in a way that their product can be sold across state lines, and:
- is headquartered or based in the Northeast; and
- sources or produces milk within the Northeast; and
- if a value-added processor, manufactures products within the Northeast.
1. Dairy producer association / dairy council which represents and promotes dairy products and dairy businesses of the Northeast. Grant projects submitted by dairy producer associations must support multiple dairy businesses in attending trade shows in order to be eligible.

Grants are available to applicants in all 11 Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

- Program page: https://nedairyinnovation.com/grants/trade-show-assistance-grant/
- Full RFA (FY25): https://nedairyinnovation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/FY25-Trade-Show-Assistance-Grant.pdf
- Resources for Grant Applicants and Recipients (WebGrants application guide): https://nedairyinnovation.com/resources/applicants-recipients/
- NE-DBIC grants index and funding calendar: https://nedairyinnovation.com/grants/

Certification

Distribution

Diversification

Events

Trade Show

Trade Relief

- Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000
- A 25% cash and/or in-kind match commitment is required
- Total funds available: $150,000 (the linked FY25 RFA states $125,000 available for that round)
- Grants are awarded on a rolling basis while the round is open
- Grant funds are distributed over two payments; unless otherwise arranged with the grant program manager, the default payment structure is 50% of grant funds upfront and 50% once the grant is complete
- Project length (FY25 round): trade shows had to occur between August 20, 2024 and June 30, 2025. Participation in more than one trade show within the timeframe is encouraged, though no more than five trade shows are allowed.
- Key dates (FY25 round): RFA released August 6, 2024; rolling application opened August 6, 2024; rolling application closed November 28, 2024 at 2:00 PM ET
- Funding source: the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, made possible by USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) award AM22DBIVT1015. NE-DBIC is hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) and is one of four USDA-AMS Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives in the nation.

List of Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) Funding Opportunities