$1.1M in Grants Available to Boost Dairy Co-Packing in the Northeast

Feb 13, 2025

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation (NE-DBIC) announces a $1.1 million investment in regional dairy processing through the Dairy Co-Packing Grant. This funding supports the development of new and expanded co-packing capabilities for processors, ultimately leading to more dairy products for consumers across the region.

The Dairy Co-Packing grants is open to applicants in 11 Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Eligible applicants include:

Dairy processors who are starting new co-packing partnerships.
Dairy processors with existing co-packing services who want to scale up, add new products, or expand partnerships.
Dairy brands that use or plan to use co-packing services.

Funding will support training and technical assistance for co-packing production. Funds may also be used for specialized dairy equipment, marketing and branding services, and more. To see specific requirements and the full list of what this grant can fund, visit the grant webpage: https://nedairyinnovation.com/processor-copacking-startup-grant/

Award amounts will range from $15,000 to $150,000, with a 25% in-kind and/or cash match. Approximately $1.1 million in total funds are available.

Applications are open from February 11 through April 10 at 2:00 pm ET.

The NE-DBIC's investment and project strategy promotes innovation and resiliency for regional production of dairy products across an 11-state Northeast region. Hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the NE-DBIC is funded through the USDA-AMS.

For more information on the NE-DBIC, visit:  https://nedairyinnovation.com/

Source : vermont.gov

Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.