Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC)

Applicants may submit year-round through the online submission portal; reviews occur quarterly on January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, and October 1st.

Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission — General

SMADC scholarships are typically awarded to individuals who live in Southern Maryland (the five-county region: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, and St. Mary's County) to assist in the costs of attending training, a workshop, or a program related to agriculture.



Eligible applicants are residents of the five-county Southern Maryland region (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, St. Mary's), high school students and above, pursuing agriculture-related training, workshops, or programs.

Education

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

Grant

Stewardship

Labor

Scholarships offset the cost of attending agriculture-related training, workshops, or programs. This is distinct from the SMADC Mini-Grant program, which supports farming operations.

Applicants may apply anytime throughout the year; requests are reviewed quarterly with deadlines of January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. Contact SMADC at (240) 528-8850 or info@smadc.com.

SMADC Sponsorships provide funds to an entity seeking sponsorship for events that provide information or assistance to benefit the region's farming community in Southern Maryland.



Eligible applicants are organizations/groups in or serving the five Southern Maryland counties (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, St. Mary's) hosting events that benefit the region's farming community.

Marketing

Sponsorship funds support qualifying agricultural events. This is the institutional counterpart to the individual-facing SMADC Scholarships.

Farmers apply directly through MARBIDCO's normal application process for one of the participating loan programs; SMADC funds supplement applicants' down payments to improve credit quality.

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Equity Incentive Matching Fund is a joint partnership designed to incentivize loan requests from Southern Maryland farmers and to help them meet certain down-payment (equity) requirements, in collaboration with MARBIDCO.



The program serves Southern Maryland farmers and agricultural producers. Applicants must meet MARBIDCO's standard underwriting criteria for their chosen loan program and follow regular application procedures.

Business Plan

Cash Rent

Refinancing

Transition

Succession

SMADC provides equity assistance capped at two levels: up to $20,000 for Maryland Resource-Based Industry Financing Fund (MRBIFF) loans, and up to $5,000 maximum per applicant for all other participating loan programs. Borrowers generally must contribute 5% equity themselves. Eligible MARBIDCO loan programs include vineyard/hops/orchard financing, shellfish aquaculture, forestry, and rural business loans.

Send Completed 
Application

Applications to: 
MARBIDCO Loan Programs
1410 Forest Drive, Suite 21, Annapolis, MD 21403a

Maryland Agriculture & Resource-Based Industry Development Company

The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) and MARBIDCO have partnered to offer programs targeted to farmers in these five Southern Maryland counties: **_Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s_.**

The Southern Maryland Revolving Loan Fund for Agriculture is designed to help Southern Maryland applicants with targeted projects that may not be financed by traditional commercial lenders. The program offers subsidized low-cost loans to qualified applicants.

A major aim of this program is to complement&#x2004;SMADC’s commitment to expand and promote a viable market-driven, sustainable, and profitable agricultural community in the Southern Maryland region. 

In furtherance of this objective, SMDAC has incorporated into this program an incentive for borrowers in _good standing_ by forgiving approximately 20-25% of the loan amount due at the end of the loan term      (by foregoing the final one-quarter of amortizing loan payments).

Loan funds may be requested for the following types of projects:

- Purchase livestock and/or enhance existing herds and flocks.

- Incubate the production of small fruits and increase acreage by existing small fruit growers.

- Upgrade for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce in line with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

- Shellfish Aquaculture Foundation development.

- Purchase equipment and industry support services for the on-farm production of value-added farm products.

- Costs related to the foundation development and expansion of the regional equine (horse) farm industry.

- MARBIDCO administers the loan program on behalf of SMADC. 



The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) and MARBIDCO have partnered to offer programs targeted to farmers in these five Southern Maryland counties: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s. 
The Southern Maryland Revolving Loan Fund for Agriculture is designed to help Southern Maryland applicants with targeted projects that may not be financed by traditional commercial lenders. The program offers subsidized low-cost loans to qualified applicants.
A major aim of this program is to complement SMADC’s commitment to expand and promote a viable market-driven, sustainable, and profitable agricultural community in the Southern Maryland region. 
In furtherance of this objective, SMDAC has incorporated into this program an incentive for borrowers in good standing by forgiving approximately 20-25% of the loan amount due at the end of the loan term      (by foregoing the final one-quarter of amortizing loan payments).
Loan funds may be requested for the following types of projects:
- Purchase livestock and/or enhance existing herds and flocks.
- Incubate the production of small fruits and increase acreage by existing small fruit growers.
- Upgrade for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce in line with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
- Shellfish Aquaculture Foundation development.
- Purchase equipment and industry support services for the on-farm production of value-added farm products.
- Costs related to the foundation development and expansion of the regional equine (horse) farm industry.
- MARBIDCO administers the loan program on behalf of SMADC. 

Producers must be located in one of these five southern Maryland counties:
- Anne Arundel
- Calvert
- Charles
- Prince George’s
- St. Mary’s

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

Loan

Aquaculture

Shellfish

Fruits

Livestock

Hops

Seafood

Aquatic Plants

Crustaceans

Molluscs

Abiu

Achachairu

Antidesma

Apples

Apricots

Bananas

Barbados Cherry

Blueberries

Breadfruit

Cacao

Caimito

Calabaza Melon

Canary Melon

Canary Seed

Caneberries

Canistel

Cantaloupes

Casaba Melon

Cherries

Chinese Bitter Melon

Chokeberry

Citron

Citron Melon

Coconuts

Cranberries

Crenshaw Melon

Custard Apple

Dates

Dragon Fruit

Durian

Elderberries

Figs

Genip

Goji

Gooseberries

Grapefruit

Grapes

Guava

Guavaberry

Honeyberries

Honeydew

Huckleberries

Israel Melons

Jack Fruit

Jujube

Juneberries

Kiwiberry

Kiwifruit

Korean Golden Melon

Kumquats

Langsat

Lemons

Limequats

Limes

Longan

Loquats

Lychee

Mangos

Mangosteen

Mayhaw Berries

Mesple

Mulberries

Nectarines

Oranges

Papaya

Passion Fruits

Pawpaw

Peaches

Pears

Pineapple

Plantain

Plumcots

Plums

Pomegranates

Prunes

Pummelo

Raisins

Rambutan

Sapodilla

Sapote

Schizandra Berries

Soursop

Sprite Melon

Star Fruit

Star Gooseberry

Strawberries

Sugar Apple

Tangelos

Tangerines

Tangors

Wampee

Watermelon

Wax Jamboo Fruit

Winter Melon

Cattle

Pigs

Poultry

Crab

Crayfish

Lobster

Geoduck

Squid

Ground Cherry

Wine

Beef Cattle

Dairy Cattle

Feeder Cattle

Slaughter Cattle

Calves

Heifers

Steers

Bulls

Barrows

Boars

Feeder Pigs

Hogs

Sows

Chickens

Cornish Hens

Ducks

Geese

Turkey

Ewes

Lambs

Rams

Alpacas

Beefalo

Bison

Buffalo

Caribou

Deer

Emus

Goats

Guinea Pigs

Llamas

Mink

Mohair

Ostrich

Pheasants

Quail

Rabbits

Reindeer

Water Buffalo

Atka Mackerel

Carp

Catfish

Flounder

Goosefish

Herring

Hybrid Striped Bass

Largemouth Bass

Ornamental Fish

Pacific Cod

Pacific Ocean Perch

Pollock

Recreational Sportfish

Red Drum

MARBIDCO Interest Rate: 4.50%
Loan Terms: One to four years (in “full” years when amortizing), following an initial interest-only period (as explained in the application).
Loan Origination Fee: None. (Paid by SMADC on the borrower’s behalf.)
Personal Guarantee: Required, if the farm business entity is the borrower. Owners of business entities (e.g., an LLC) must also provide guarantees. (Note: The minimum eligible credit score is 620.)

List of Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) Funding Opportunities