Northeast Dairy Center Awards $1.4 Million in Modernization Grants
Source: DairyNews.today
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) has allocated $1.48 million in Dairy Processor Modernization Grants to support dairy processors in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Individual grants range from $62,000 to $350,000, aimed at enhancing production facilities and ensuring long-term business sustainability.
The funding focuses on upgrading equipment to improve production efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance employee working conditions. Projects include the installation of specialized machinery such as whipped cream cheese mixers, precision weight cheese cutters, and rotary filler-sealers.
Grant Structure and Recipients
To address the diverse needs of processors, applicants were divided into two tiers based on milk utilization per production day.
Tier 1 Recipients
Franklin Foods, VT: Awarded $123,066 for a whipped cream cheese mixer to reduce loss and enhance product quality.
HP Hood, MA: Received $350,000 for a fruit mixing unit to separate yogurt and cottage cheese production, boosting cottage cheese output and labor efficiency.
King Brothers Dairy, NY: Secured $200,000 to streamline production with modernized equipment, enhancing capacity and safety.
Ronnybrook Farm Dairy, NY: Granted $62,000 for glycol chillers to optimize the pasteurization process and improve cooling efficiency for cultured products.
Tier 2 Recipients
All Star Specialties, NY: Awarded $147,367.50 for ice cream production upgrades, doubling capacity while reducing energy costs and improving labor efficiency.
Eden Valley Creamery, NY: Received $112,000 to expand cheese production with new vats, a curd mill, and a packaging line, enabling a 100% increase in output.
Goat Rodeo Farm & Dairy, PA: Secured $81,216 for a precision weight cheese cutter to standardize pre-cut cheese production, reducing costs and waste.
Lively Run Goat Dairy, NY: Granted $150,000 to upgrade cheese-aging equipment, more than doubling production capacity.
New City Ice Cream, MA: Awarded $150,000 for larger commercial equipment to expand production, cut costs, and create jobs.
Sweet Cow Yogurt, VT: Received $101,000 for equipment upgrades to double production, eliminate plastic lids, and enhance employee conditions.
Impact on the Dairy Industry
The modernization efforts supported by these grants aim to strengthen the Northeast dairy sector's competitiveness, enabling processors to meet growing demand while improving sustainability and operational efficiency. The investment underscores the NE-DBIC’s commitment to fostering innovation and resilience in the dairy industry.
Grant Structure and Recipients
To address the diverse needs of processors, applicants were divided into two tiers based on milk utilization per production day.
Tier 1 Recipients
Franklin Foods, VT: Awarded $123,066 for a whipped cream cheese mixer to reduce loss and enhance product quality.
HP Hood, MA: Received $350,000 for a fruit mixing unit to separate yogurt and cottage cheese production, boosting cottage cheese output and labor efficiency.
King Brothers Dairy, NY: Secured $200,000 to streamline production with modernized equipment, enhancing capacity and safety.
Ronnybrook Farm Dairy, NY: Granted $62,000 for glycol chillers to optimize the pasteurization process and improve cooling efficiency for cultured products.
Tier 2 Recipients
All Star Specialties, NY: Awarded $147,367.50 for ice cream production upgrades, doubling capacity while reducing energy costs and improving labor efficiency.
Eden Valley Creamery, NY: Received $112,000 to expand cheese production with new vats, a curd mill, and a packaging line, enabling a 100% increase in output.
Goat Rodeo Farm & Dairy, PA: Secured $81,216 for a precision weight cheese cutter to standardize pre-cut cheese production, reducing costs and waste.
Lively Run Goat Dairy, NY: Granted $150,000 to upgrade cheese-aging equipment, more than doubling production capacity.
New City Ice Cream, MA: Awarded $150,000 for larger commercial equipment to expand production, cut costs, and create jobs.
Sweet Cow Yogurt, VT: Received $101,000 for equipment upgrades to double production, eliminate plastic lids, and enhance employee conditions.
Impact on the Dairy Industry
The modernization efforts supported by these grants aim to strengthen the Northeast dairy sector's competitiveness, enabling processors to meet growing demand while improving sustainability and operational efficiency. The investment underscores the NE-DBIC’s commitment to fostering innovation and resilience in the dairy industry.
