Innovation in Dairy Processing and Packaging Grant

The Innovation in Dairy Processing and Packaging Grant program, offered by the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC), aims to support innovation within the Northeast dairy sector. This initiative aligns with NE-DBIC's mission to foster growth and sustainability for dairy processors of varying scales in the region. The program's strategic priorities are centered on developing alternatives to current industry standards through projects that are applicable, scalable, and replicable for small- and mid-sized Northeast dairy processors, ultimately leading to beneficial environmental and/or economic impacts. The primary beneficiaries of this grant include licensed dairy processors, dairy producer associations, packaging manufacturers, supply chain businesses, educational/research institutions, and technical assistance providers. The program targets the Northeast region, which encompasses Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The impact goals are to help these entities gain knowledge, implement systems for informed long-term business investments, and promote innovation that addresses issues relevant to more than one Northeast processor. The grant prioritizes projects that focus on packaging initiatives emphasizing sustainability, scalability, and marketability for small and mid-sized processors. This includes topics like packaging lifecycle analysis, materials, costs of conversion, supply chain logistics, research and development, design, processor changeovers, and infrastructure upgrades. Additionally, the program supports novel processing solutions in areas such as sourcing, product development, alternative production, distribution, operations, workforce development, and marketing. Collaboration across the dairy sector and partnerships between sectors are also key focuses to ensure broad benefits for dairy businesses. Expected outcomes include the implementation or adoption of novel or uncommon products, processes, or technologies. For research-focused projects, grantees must demonstrate a commitment to implementing the research findings. Projects ready for implementation must show a robust prior research and development phase. A critical measurable result for all projects is the inclusion of an educational/knowledge sharing component for the regional dairy industry, such as presentations, tours, published articles, or guides, ensuring that advancements benefit the wider community. The program offers grants ranging from $75,000 to $350,000, with a 25% match commitment required, indicating a significant investment in achieving these transformative outcomes within the Northeast dairy industry.