Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (ME DACF)

1. Before you complete any forms, take time to update your business plan, budget & financial projections to include the proposed project.
2. Complete the fillable Project Eligibility Form (PDF) digitally, and email it to DACF.
3. The DACF will review your Project Eligibility Form and may contact you to conduct a telephone interview and make a site visit.
4. The Commissioner will then either issue a Letter of Eligibility for your project or recommend that you revise and resubmit your Project Eligibility Form for reconsideration.
5. If the Commissioner issues a Letter of Eligibility for your project, then you, as an eligible Borrower, may submit your completed AMLF Loan Application and FAME Personal Financial Statement to FAME. You must do this within 90 days. Please see FAME's Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund webpage for more details and forms.


FAME

The Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund (AMLF) provides financing to help Maine agricultural businesses undertake projects to enhance the viability and vitality of the farm, and improve the manufacturing, marketability and production of their products.



An eligible Borrower must: 
- Be an agricultural or aquaculture enterprise;
- Be located in the State of Maine and currently engaged in growing or harvesting plants; raising animals; growing, obtaining or adding value to plant or animal by-products; aquaculture; or producing, processing, storing, packaging or marketing a product derived from such a business being sold commercially; and
- Propose a project that is an eligible use of the fund.

The Fund may be used to:
- Purchase equipment;
- Purchase of land in connection with development of new cranberry acreage;
- Fund agricultural irrigation;
- To support diversification of an existing farming enterprise;
- Expand an existing agricultural enterprise to comply with land use regulations;
- Improve pastureland to promote rotational grazing; and
- Design, construct, or improve buildings, docks, wharves, piers, vessels, commodity and storage structures, packing facilities, or marketing facilities.

The Fund may not be used for:
- Working capital; or
- Refinancing projects commenced, costs incurred, or expenses paid prior to loan application. However, the Borrower may submit a written request for a waiver. Such waiver must be approved in writing by the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF).

A payment that must be returned to the provider following specified terms of repayment and interest rate.

Loan

- Project Eligibility Form
- Application—Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund
- Personal Financial Statement

Events

Certification

Distribution

Diversification

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Greenhouse

Buildings

Fencing

Construction

Storage

Trade Relief

Certified Organic

Water Management

Marketing

Regenerative

Facilities

Conservation

AMLF provides eligible Borrowers direct loans of up to $250,000 at a 5% fixed interest rate for capital improvements.

An eligible Borrower who previously received a Maine Farms for the Future Phase I grant may request the recommendation of the Maine Farms for the Future program for a 2% fixed interest rate.

Up to 30 years and determined by the useful life of the asset(s) being financed.

Request application from and submit application to the Maine Potato Board:

Maine Potato Board
744 Main Street, Room #1
Presque Isle, ME 04769
207- 769-5061
800-553-5516

If the project is deemed eligible, the Maine Potato Board will notify the applicant(s) and will forward the application to FAME for financial review. Final approval is granted by the commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Maine Potato Board

The Potato Marketing Improvement Fund Program provides low-interest financing to help Maine potato growers and packers improve the quality and marketing of their potatoes. Potato Marketing Improvement funds may also be used to improve the economic viability of the potato industry.


Funds may be used for:

- New construction or improvements to storage and packing facilities;

- Purchase of packing, sizing, washing and drying equipment;

- New construction or improvements of structures which augment potato production; or

- Purchase, construction or improvements that add value to farm production with direct benefit to potato production.



The Potato Marketing Improvement Fund Program provides low-interest financing to help Maine potato growers and packers improve the quality and marketing of their potatoes. Potato Marketing Improvement funds may also be used to improve the economic viability of the potato industry.

Funds may be used for:
- New construction or improvements to storage and packing facilities;
- Purchase of packing, sizing, washing and drying equipment;
- New construction or improvements of structures which augment potato production; or
- Purchase, construction or improvements that add value to farm production with direct benefit to potato production.

Generally, any person or business engaged in growing, processing or marketing potatoes in Maine. All potatoes stored or packed in Potato Marketing Improvement Fund-financed facilities must be produced in Maine.

Potatoes

Potato Seeds

Processing Potatoes

Russet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Vegetables

Specialty Crops

Local Food

Farmers Market

Four loan types with different terms are available
New Facilities Loan Fund may be used for acquisition/improvement projects, or new construction of storages and/or centralized packing facilities and actuation of equipment.
Storage Retrofit Loan Program may be used for upgrading storages with energy efficiency improvements, and climate control equipment.
Support Facilities Loan Program may be used for construction and acquisition, or improvement of buildings and other structures which augment the production and/or storage of potatoes, or help meet food safety standards.
Value Added Loan Program may be used for construction, or for improvements of facilities and equipment to add value to farm production with a direct benefit to potato production.
Security
Asset(s) being financed or other collateral, as required or available.
Guarantees of business principals owning 20% or more of the business, or 5% or more and receiving significant income from the business.
Fees
Borrower is responsible for all loan closing costs.

Review the Draft Application to prepare for submission. When you are ready, complete your application at this portal.

You will be required to upload these documents during the application process:
- Project Template (download during application)
- W-9 (Downloadable below)
- A DUNS Number (Look yours up or get one for free here)

The AIIP will provide critical funding for Maine farms and agricultural food processors pursuing infrastructure upgrades that will mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19, increase capacity, enhance supply chain resilience, address market disruptions, and drive growth within the Maine agricultural and food economy while providing more locally-available foods to Mainers.

This funding will help farms and processors who source from Maine’s agricultural producers acquire the equipment and assets necessary to grow capacity in a manner that meets the markedly increased demand for Maine grown and produced products as well as the new operational requirements resulting from pandemic conditions.

The two primary goals of the AIIP are as follows:

1. To provide an injection of critical funding for Maine farms and agricultural food processing businesses that have faced and continue to face market disruptions, supply chain issues, and workforce challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health response. Specifically, this funding will support projects that allow farms and businesses to increase production and processing capacity by investing in infrastructure and equipment; and

2. To make investments in Maine agricultural processors that aid transitions to address new market dynamics and enable long-term sustainability in the sector.




The AIIP will provide critical funding for Maine farms and agricultural food processors pursuing infrastructure upgrades that will mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19, increase capacity, enhance supply chain resilience, address market disruptions, and drive growth within the Maine agricultural and food economy while providing more locally-available foods to Mainers.
This funding will help farms and processors who source from Maine’s agricultural producers acquire the equipment and assets necessary to grow capacity in a manner that meets the markedly increased demand for Maine grown and produced products as well as the new operational requirements resulting from pandemic conditions.
The two primary goals of the AIIP are as follows:
1. To provide an injection of critical funding for Maine farms and agricultural food processing businesses that have faced and continue to face market disruptions, supply chain issues, and workforce challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health response. Specifically, this funding will support projects that allow farms and businesses to increase production and processing capacity by investing in infrastructure and equipment; and
2. To make investments in Maine agricultural processors that aid transitions to address new market dynamics and enable long-term sustainability in the sector.


To be eligible for this funding opportunity, applicants must:
- Be a farm or agricultural business or organization with fewer than 200 employees;
- Be located in Maine;
- Be current and in good standing with all Maine State payroll taxes, sales taxes, and state income taxes (as applicable);
- Not be in bankruptcy; and
- Not have permanently ceased all operations.

Eligible Activities and Expenses:
- Capital improvements to expand capacity (including expansion and modifications to existing buildings and/or construction of new buildings at existing or newly acquired sites) for the purpose of processing, aggregating, storing, and value-adding Maine agricultural products.
- Upgrades to utilities (including water, electric, heat, refrigeration, freezing, and waste facilities).
- Livestock intake and storage equipment.
- Growing, processing, manufacturing, and storage equipment and construction.
- Packaging and handling equipment (including sealing, bagging, boxing, labeling, conveying, and product moving equipment).
- Additional warehouse equipment (including storage and drying/curing racks).
- Purchase of waste treatment/management equipment (including tanks, blowers, separators, dryers, digesters, and equipment that uses waste to produce energy, fuel, or industrial products).
- Facility reconfiguration (including labor and materials for changes necessary to meet social distancing guidelines).
- Technology that allows increased capacity (to meet unanticipated demand) or business resilience (including software and hardware related to business functions, logistics, inventory management, plant production controls, temperature monitoring controls)
- Consulting, and Technical Assistance (TA), including market research and feasibility studies, engineering and construction planning, land use planning, facility design and configuration planning, and other services that directly support future implementation of infrastructure-related capacity-building projects.
- Leasehold improvements to rented buildings or facilities.


A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

- AIIP Overview & Application
- AIIP Guidelines & Eligibility
- AIIP FAQs
- Draft Application

Trees

Wildfire

Weather

Coronavirus

Hurricane

Tornado

Flood

Drought

Emergency

Priority will be given to applications that satisfy any combination of the following:
- Process products intended for human consumption;
- Source from multiple Maine farms;
- Source more than 50% of product inputs from Maine;
- Provide inputs for multiple down-stream food producers;
- Support other Maine agricultural businesses by sharing processing infrastructure.


The first step in the application process is an eligibility determination. Submit an Eligibility Form to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) bu email or regular mail to the below address:

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Agricultural Resource Development Division
Attn: yvette.meunier@Maine.gov
28 State House Station 
Augusta, ME 04333 

If the project is deemed eligible, DACF will notify the applicant(s) and will forward the Eligibility Form to FAME. The applicant(s) must then complete and submit the required program application documents (listed below) to FAME.

The Dairy Improvement Loan Fund (DIF) provides financing to help Maine agricultural businesses undertake projects to enhance the viability and vitality of the farm, and improve the manufacturing, marketability and production of their products.



Eligible Borrower
An eligible Borrower must:
- Be a dairy enterprise, dairy, dairy farm, or business making milk products;
- Keep cows, sheep and/or goats that contribute milk to your products;
- Be located in the State of Maine and currently producing milk products that are sold commercially; and
- Propose a project that is an eligible use of the fund.
Eligible Uses of the Fund
The Fund may be used to:
- Design, construct, or improve milking parlors, dairy barns and structures, and dairy feed storage structures; or
- Purchase, construct, or renovate buildings, land and equipment to maintain and enhance the viability and vitality of an established dairy enterprise, dairy, dairy farm, or business making milk products, located in the State of Maine.
Ineligible Uses of the Fund
The Fund may not be used for:
- Working capital; or
- Refinancing projects commenced, costs incurred, or expenses paid prior to loan application. However, the Borrower may submit a written request for a waiver. Such waiver must be approved in writing by the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF).


Dairy

Cow Milk

Butter

Cheese

Yogurt

Goat Milk

Milk

- Eligibility Form—Dairy Improvement Fund
- Application—Dairy Improvement Fund
- Personal Financial Statement

Equipment

Deferred principal and interest payments may be available up to 24 months from closing; interest accrues beginning at closing.

Up to 30 years and determined by the useful life of the asset(s) being financed.

Fees
- Loan origination fee: 1% (for loans over $100,000).
- Borrower is responsible for all loan closing costs.

Applications are to be submitted to the State of Maine Division of Procurement Services, via email, to Proposals@maine.gov. Applications must be received by December 6, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. local time. Applications received after the 11:59 p.m. deadline will be ineligible for award consideration for that annual application enrollment period.

Important Notes:
- Only applications received by email will be considered. The Department assumes no liability for assuring accurate/complete e-mail transmission and receipt. 
- Applicants are to insert the following into the subject line of their email submission: “RFA# 202109150 Application Submission – [Applicant’s Farm Name]”
- Applications are to be submitted as a single, typed, PDF or WORD file and must include pages 10-18 of this RFA document.
- Applications must include 
    - copies of current certifications (Organic, etc.) or licenses (Maple Syrup, Commercial Kitchen, Mobile Vendor, etc.) required to lawfully operate the farm business.
    - The 2019 and 2020 Balance Sheet Financial Statement. 

Review the RFP carefully to make sure your application is compliant with the program rules.



Stephanie Gilbert

Alexander Redfield

The **Maine Farms for the Future Program** is a competitive grant program that provides selected farms with business planning assistance and investment support.


The goal is to provide grants to for farm business owners to conduct research and strategic business planning on their “_Ideas for Change_” that might increase Farm Vitality, which is defined as, “_an increase in long-term, maintainable, farm profitability and net worth_."


The Program offers a spring and fall application period for eligible farm business owners who choose to apply.



The Maine Farms for the Future Program is a competitive grant program that provides selected farms with business planning assistance and investment support.

The goal is to provide grants to for farm business owners to conduct research and strategic business planning on their “Ideas for Change” that might increase Farm Vitality, which is defined as, “an increase in long-term, maintainable, farm profitability and net worth."

The Program offers a spring and fall application period for eligible farm business owners who choose to apply.

The Phase 1 grant allows selected farmers to research ideas for change on their farm and work with a certified business advisor, as well as other agricultural and professional service providers to develop an investment-grade business plan. To be eligible to apply for the Phase 1 grant of $6,000 to research and develop a business plan, an Applicant must:
1. Be a private, for-profit company that is owned by individuals, partners or corporations, that grows or produces agricultural products for commercial sale 
2. Own and operate a Farm Business that has been producing agricultural products commercially in the State of Maine for at least two (2) years (24 months) at the time of application;
3. Have ownership of the land that is being farmed, or be a partner or shareholder in a legal entity that owns the farmland; or if the farmland has been purchased recently, provide evidence of at least two years (24 months) of experience operating a commercial farm operation elsewhere in Maine;
4. Have State of Maine certification or licensure as required for their type of agricultural operation, i.e. Nutrient Management Plan, Commercial Kitchen License, Milk License, etc.

- 2021 Request For Applications
- Outline of Contents for Phase 2 Business Plan (DOCX)
- Farms selected for Maine Farms for the Future – Phase 1 from 01/01/00 to 12/31/2019 (PDF)
- 2021 Business Planning Outline (DOCX)
- FFF In-Kind Materials Match Log (XLS)
- FFF In-Kind Labor Match Log (XLS)
- FFF Purchased Materials Match Log (XLS)
- FFF Contracted Labor Match Log (XLS)


Trials

Succession

Waste & Manure Management

Fertilizer

Weeds

Labor

Legal & Finance

The Phase 2 cash grant and/or low-interest rate on a loan through the Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund (AMLF), assists those farmers selected for Phase 1 between January 1, 2000 and the current year, who have a current business plan with implementing the project(s) described in their Business Plan. In exchange for a Phase 2 grant, each farm must sign a Farmland Protection Agreement that will be valid for 7 years. If a farm is permanently protected with a conservation easement, the farm may only compete for the low-interest rate on the AMLF loan. 
To be eligible for a Phase 2 cash grant and/or the low interest rate through the Agricultural Marketing Loan Fund, an Applicant must:
1. Be a “Selected Farm” which is a farm that was previously selected for and completed Phase 1 after January 1, 2000; and
2. Satisfy all other eligibility criteria and match requirements listed in the Phase 2 Application Form.
Questions about Phase 2 Eligibility and Application Process can be submitted to alexander.redfield@maine.gov and answers will be published in December.

List of Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (ME DACF) Funding Opportunities