In the context of modern restrictions and sanctions, increasing cheese production volumes remains an urgent problem for Russian producers. The article examines the development of the cheese industry at both the federal and regional levels in the context of the implementation of the Food Security Doctrine of the Russian Federation. The development of the cheese-making industry faces significant difficulties associated not only with the processing of dairy raw materials and its availability, but also with the lack of premises for cheese maturation, which are practically absent in the small and medium-sized business segment. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage more small and medium-sized enterprises to engage in milk processing and production of dairy products. The introduction of a project management system in small businesses has the potential to mitigate the unfavorable factors prevailing in the Russian economy, leading to the creation of a flexible management system capable of adapting to any negative impacts. Distinctive features of small business project management are: the predominance of short-term projects that rely on internal resources, the relatively small size of projects in relation to the economy as a whole, but significant in relation to the size of the companies themselves, profit-oriented projects with an emphasis on short-term benefits, the practice of minimization project costs, risks, integration of project responsibilities with the main functions of employees.