Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Maryland Agriculture & Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO)

Applicants must verify in their application that commercial lender or Farm Service Agency loan proceeds are available to help complete the proposed farming project. Applicants that are awarded grants may not materially deviate from their approved business plans without approval from MARBIDCO and the participating commercial lender.

Mail completed applications to:

MARBIDCO Programs
1410 Forest Dr., Suite 21
Annapolis, MD 21403

Maryland Agriculture & Resource-Based Industry Development Company

Obtaining financing is difficult for most farmers, but particularly for urban farmers. A very small amount of equity capital can make a significant difference in helping these business owners to obtain bank financing (commercial loans).


MARBIDCO’s MUACLIG program addresses the finance needs of urban farmers. With the support of Farm Credit, MARBIDCO provides grant funds to incentivize the urban farmer to try to obtain commercial financing.



Obtaining financing is difficult for most farmers, but particularly for urban farmers. A very small amount of equity capital can make a significant difference in helping these business owners to obtain bank financing (commercial loans).

MARBIDCO’s MUACLIG program addresses the finance needs of urban farmers. With the support of Farm Credit, MARBIDCO provides grant funds to incentivize the urban farmer to try to obtain commercial financing.

Applicants must be qualified Beginning Urban Farmers, which are defined as being farmers (either individuals or incorporated businesses) with the principal operator(s) having:
- Limited personal or business financial resources;
- A food/fiber growing operation located in an urban community (i.e., must be geographically located within an incorporated municipality, or within the Baltimore or Washington beltways including the City of Baltimore);
- Ten or fewer years of commercial farming experience – either in a for-profit or not-for-profit setting; and
- No previous commercial agriculture loan history.

Eligible business activities include the purchase of:
- Agricultural inputs and supplies such as seed, fertilizer, compost, and baskets;
- Farm tools and equipment;
- Greenhouses, high tunnels, refrigeration, and irrigation systems; and
- Hired labor (at no more than 20% of the total eligible project cost).


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

Grant

Cash Rent

Refinancing

Business Plan

Transition

Feed

Seed

Fertilizer

Pest Management

Weeds

Waste & Manure Management

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Training

Succession

Inputs

Nutrient Management

Facilities

Conservation

Water Management

Maximum Grant Amount: $10,000, calculated at no more than 20% of the project’s total cost and no more than 25% of the amount of the approved commercial loan for the project. (The minimum grant amount is $1,000 – with a commercial loan of $4,000, combines for a $5,000 project).

Assemble your application materials:
- A completed MARBIDCO application.
- Copy of your complete USDA Value-Added Producer Grant application.
- Business plan for the project to receive financing (required for Working Capital applications).
- Feasibility study (required for some Working Capital applications).

Applications may be submitted by email to scriste@marbidco.org prior to the  11:59 p.m., Thursday, May 11, 2023.

Application's may also be submitted by regular mail, but MUST BE POSTMARKED BY MAY 1ST. Submit your completed application packet by mail to:
MARBIDCO
1410 Forest Drive
Suite 21
Annapolis MD 21403

All MVAPMG applicants meeting the MARBIDCO requirements will receive a commitment letter of matching funds to be included with their federal applications. The MVAPMG commitment amount cannot exceed 15% of the required non-federal match, and it may be for a lesser amount depending on the quantity of MVAPMG applications that are received and the size of the pool of available MARBIDCO funds.

Maryland Value Added Producer Matching Grant (MVAPMG – USDA Option) is designed to encourage participation in USDA's highly competitive [Value Added Producer Grant Program](https://ambrook.com/funding/vapg) (which has both planning and working capital components). The USDA VAPG does not award funding for capital equipment purchases.


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."



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.

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.

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

Events

Certification

Distribution

Diversification

Certified Organic

Trade Relief

The grant amount has been set at up to 15% of the of the matching funds required under the USDA VAPG ($11,250 for planning grants and $25,000 for working capital grants).

Read and complete the appropriate application form for either a Small-Scale Farmer Aggregation Project or a Public Sector Aggregation Project. 
Send completed applications and all attachments to:
MARBIDCO Local Farm Enterprise Food Aggregation Grant Program 
1410 Forest Drive, Suite 21
Annapolis, MD 21403
or email to skubofcik@marbidco.org.

Stacy Kubofcik

The purpose of the Certified Local Farm Enterprise Food Aggregation Grant Program is to demonstrate how the investment of funds can help to grow and strengthen Maryland’s local food system and to create opportunities for small farmers to sell products to&#x2004;wholesale and institutional markets. The grant funds will be used to fund projects that help small farmers aggregate their product to sell to institutional or wholesale buyer. Funds will be used to provide financial support to up to five small-scale farmer-led projects. See below for more information:

MARBIDCO offers two levels of grant funding for food aggregation projects:

1. **Small-Scale Farmer Aggregation Project** – A grant of between $25,000 and $100,000 is available. 

2. **Public Sector Aggregation Project** – A grant of between $150,000 and $400,000 is available. 



The purpose of the Certified Local Farm Enterprise Food Aggregation Grant Program is to demonstrate how the investment of funds can help to grow and strengthen Maryland’s local food system and to create opportunities for small farmers to sell products to wholesale and institutional markets. The grant funds will be used to fund projects that help small farmers aggregate their product to sell to institutional or wholesale buyer. Funds will be used to provide financial support to up to five small-scale farmer-led projects. See below for more information:
MARBIDCO offers two levels of grant funding for food aggregation projects:
1. Small-Scale Farmer Aggregation Project – A grant of between $25,000 and $100,000 is available. 
2. Public Sector Aggregation Project – A grant of between $150,000 and $400,000 is available. 

Small-Scale Farmer Aggregation Project
Applicants for the small-scale farmer aggregation grant must include at least four Certified Local Farm Enterprise farmers and applicants must provide at least a 20% match of private funds in the project. An example of a small-scale aggregation entity could include an agricultural marketing group (an LLC), or legally organized farm cooperative using the grant funds to purchase cold storage equipment or construct an indoor processing facility in order to better handle products moving to wholesale and institutional buyers.The applicant must provide evidence that it will be selling some quantity of product to a specific wholesale or institutional buyer. An example could be the public school system. This could be in the form of a contract or letter of commitment, which specifies it will purchase a certain amount of product
Public Sector Aggregation Project
Applicants for the larger scale aggregation grant will be a public entity (such as a county government, municipality, community college, university, county school system or rural regional council). The grant is for public projects that plan to be primarily aggregation centers for wholesale and institutional buyers. If the applicant is the buyer, it would need to provide a commitment to purchase from at least four Certified Local Farm Enterprise farmers and include what it plans to purchase and the amount of each product. If the applicant is facilitating the aggregation, it would need to provide evidence of that it will aggregate produce from at least four Certified Local Farm Enterprise farmers and provide a commitment from a wholesaler or institution to purchase from the aggregation center. The grant requires at least a 20% match of funds in the project. A project of this size might also require a partnership of multiple entities and funding sources.

Local Food

Farmers Market

Stewardship

Food Systems

Send application (below) electronically to scriste@marbidco.org or mail to:
MARBIDCO
Maryland Producer Cold Storage Grant Program
c/o Sierra Criste
1410 Forest Drive, Suite 21
Annapolis, MD 21403

This grant assists those in the farming and commercial fishing industries with the purchase of cold storage equipment and installation assistance if needed. MARBIDCO will match up to 50% of the cost of the project, with a maximum grant award amount of $1,000.



Farmers and watermen with at least $1,000 in agricultural or seafood product sales in calendar years 2021 or 2022. The eligible applicants can include sole proprietorships, partnerships, cooperatives, and LLCs. 
Commercial Watermen must have an active Tidal Fisheries License (TFL) with the Department of Natural Resources and provide the TFL number on the application form. Shellfish Aquaculture farmers must be an active leaseholder with the Department of Natural Resources and provide the lease number on the application from.
Grant funds and matching funds must be used to purchase and install cold storage equipment, including:
- Large coolers
- Ice machines
- On-boat or On-dock cold storage
- Reach-in refrigerator/freezer
- Walk-in refrigerator/freezer
- On-truck cold storage (does not include costs related to purchase a truck)
- Third-party costs related to installation of cold storage unit or construction of cold storage facility

Applicants are required to pay for at least 50% of the eligible project cost.

To apply, mail your completed application to 
MARBIDCO Programs
1410 Forest Drive, Suite 21
Annapolis, MD 21403

Basic application requirements:
- Completed application form (please do not send binders)
- Evidence of matching funds
- Tax returns (including all Schedules for most recent past year)
- Detailed business plan 
- Agree to site inspection prior to final approval
- If awarded must also agree to site inspections during construction phase of project


Once per year, MARBIDCO offers grants of between $2,500 and $10,000 distributed on a competitive basis for value added processing capital&#x2004;asset projects. Eligible applicants must be a crop or livestock producer or processor, agricultural cooperative, seafood processor, or primary or secondary timber products processor, and have been in business for a minimum of two years. In addition, applicants must be making a product that is “value added.”


Maryland Value Added Producer Grant – Capital Assets Option (MVAPG–CAO) program is designed to encourage farms and other rural businesses wanting to expand or diversify their operations through value added processing to purchase equipment or construct facilities.



Once per year, MARBIDCO offers grants of between $2,500 and $10,000 distributed on a competitive basis for value added processing capital asset projects. Eligible applicants must be a crop or livestock producer or processor, agricultural cooperative, seafood processor, or primary or secondary timber products processor, and have been in business for a minimum of two years. In addition, applicants must be making a product that is “value added.”

Maryland Value Added Producer Grant – Capital Assets Option (MVAPG–CAO) program is designed to encourage farms and other rural businesses wanting to expand or diversify their operations through value added processing to purchase equipment or construct facilities.

Eligible applicants must be a crop or livestock producer or processor, agricultural cooperative, seafood processor, or primary or secondary timber products processor, and have been in business for a minimum of two years.

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

Eligible Expenses:

Eligible expenses are capital assets which will help farmers, forest product operations and seafood processors to expand or diversify their business operations. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Production buildings and major fixtures
- Livestock or seafood processing facilities
- Fruit, vegetable or timber processing facilities
- Creamery production equipment
- Manure digesters
- Optimization systems for maximizing fiber yield recovery
- Dry kilns, shavings mills, sawdust dryers and in-woods chippers

Ineligible expenses are those not specifically stated under eligible expenses, such as, but not limited to, the following:
- Any expense incurred prior to Thursday, September 26, 2019.
- Tractors, combines, sprayers or similar common farm implements and attachments thereto
- Any self-propelled vehicles (except certain vehicles used in timber processing)
- Property acquisition costs
- Mortgage refinancing
- Cost of borrowing (e.g., points and other fees)
- Site plan and construction permits
- Wages paid to applicant or employees, or applicant or employee training costs
- Solar or wind energy projects
- Furnishings, fixtures or equipment considered personal (non-business) property
- Machine storage, ancillary workshops, housing, classrooms, etc.
- Any portion of expense for which the applicant pays a contractor in merchandise or service in lieu of cash
- Attorney’s fees and consultants’ fees
- Fees and/or costs not consistent with eligible costs

Send Completed Applications electronically to scriste@marbidco.org or mail to: 
MARBIDCO Wood Products Industry Equity Incentive Grant 
c/o Sierra Criste 
1410 Forest Drive, Suite 21 
Annapolis, MD 
21403

Sierra Criste

MARBIDCO recognizes the importance of the forests products industry from economic, environmental&#x2004;and consumer perspectives, and thus seeks to assist in growing a strong and diversified wood products industry in Maryland. MARBIDCO also has a desire to assist Maryland’s forestry businesses with improving operations and efficiency, increasing productivity and employment opportunities, and supporting new markets development. 

The forests products industry has been in decline for several years for various reasons, and the COVID19 Pandemic exacerbated the economic distress. By helping to sustain and grow a healthy forestry industry, investment now will yield substantial longer-term benefits for Marylanders. Recognizing this, during the 2022 session the Governor and Maryland General Assembly authorized $500,0000 in funding for MARBIDCO to establish the Maryland Wood Products Industry Equity Incentive Program (WPIEI). 

The WPIEI Program offers up to a 25% matching grant, up to $50,000, for the purchase of equipment or facilities improvement. An ancillary objective of this program is to complement the financial services offered by private commercial lenders by leveraging funds to facilitate larger scale projects which will enable industry growth. This program will help Maryland wood fiber harvesters, processors and manufacturers engage in increased production and utilization of locally sourced wood fiber, improve business operations and efficiency, and pursuit of new markets opportunities. 

Eligible applicants may apply for incentive grants for a wide range of equipment and capital asset purchases of specialized forestry and logging equipment and small- and large-scale wood processing equipment. Eligible projects include tangible equipment purchases and facilities improvement costs. 



MARBIDCO recognizes the importance of the forests products industry from economic, environmental and consumer perspectives, and thus seeks to assist in growing a strong and diversified wood products industry in Maryland. MARBIDCO also has a desire to assist Maryland’s forestry businesses with improving operations and efficiency, increasing productivity and employment opportunities, and supporting new markets development. 
The forests products industry has been in decline for several years for various reasons, and the COVID19 Pandemic exacerbated the economic distress. By helping to sustain and grow a healthy forestry industry, investment now will yield substantial longer-term benefits for Marylanders. Recognizing this, during the 2022 session the Governor and Maryland General Assembly authorized $500,0000 in funding for MARBIDCO to establish the Maryland Wood Products Industry Equity Incentive Program (WPIEI). 
The WPIEI Program offers up to a 25% matching grant, up to $50,000, for the purchase of equipment or facilities improvement. An ancillary objective of this program is to complement the financial services offered by private commercial lenders by leveraging funds to facilitate larger scale projects which will enable industry growth. This program will help Maryland wood fiber harvesters, processors and manufacturers engage in increased production and utilization of locally sourced wood fiber, improve business operations and efficiency, and pursuit of new markets opportunities. 
Eligible applicants may apply for incentive grants for a wide range of equipment and capital asset purchases of specialized forestry and logging equipment and small- and large-scale wood processing equipment. Eligible projects include tangible equipment purchases and facilities improvement costs. 

Eligible applicants include commercial timber harvesters, and primary or secondary wood products processors. Applicants can include sole proprietorships, partnerships, cooperatives, corporations, and LLCs. Grant funds and matching funds must be used for equipment and capital asset purchases (that have a useful life of seven years or more). 
Eligible expenses include wood processing equipment and facilities, sawmills, dry kilns, skidders, in-woods chippers, primary and secondary wood processing equipment, optimization systems for maximizing fiber yield recovery, shaving and pellet mills, and sawdust dryers.

Timber

Forestry

Forest Residues

- Application and Instructions (PDF)
- Application and Instructions (Word)

Under WPIEI, MARBIDCO will provide up to 25% matching funds of the total project cost, with a maximum grant award not to exceed $50,000. Grant funds will be distributed on a reimbursement basis (or direct-to-vendor basis) with appropriate documentation provided.

List of Maryland Agriculture & Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) Funding Opportunities