Maryland Value Added Producer Matching Grant (MVAPMG)

Maryland Value Added Producer Matching Grant (MVAPMG – USDA Option) is designed to encourage participation in USDA's highly competitive Value Added Producer Grant Program (which has both planning and working capital components). The USDA VAPG does not award funding for capital equipment purchases, however, Maryland farmers may opt to seek funding for such purchases through MARBIDCO's Value Added Producer Grant - Capital Assets Option program.

The USDA Value Added Producer Grant Program, is offered annually and requires a non-federal financial matching commitment and each application for the MVAPMG must include a “verification of matching funds."

Eligible applicants must be an independent producer, agricultural producer group, farmer or ranch cooperative, or majority-controlled producer-based business venture (all defined terms under federal regulations) who apply for a USDA Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG).

In addition, applicants must be making a product that is “value-added.” A product that is value-added has in incremental value realized by the producer as a result of:

1. change in physical state;

2. differentiated production or marketing;

3. product segregation; and

4. economic benefit realized from the production of farm-or ranch-based renewable energy.

The grant amount has been set at up to 15% of the of the matching funds required under the USDA VAPG (with a maximum of $75,000 for planning grants and $250,000 for working capital grants).