Grants, Loans, and Incentives

Grants & Incentive Programs
 

• Growing Grapes for Wine Program Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC)
  The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) is offering grants to farms in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, and St. Mary's counties to aid in the purchase of wine grape vines. These funds are being made available as a continuation of SMADC'S Growing Grapes for Wine Program which was established to encourage and support the development of a competitive wine industry in Southern Maryland. The grant program requires matching funds supplied by the farm owner for the purchase of grape vines of recommended grape varieties compatible with the region. The Grapes for Wine Program is offered together with the University of Maryland Extension which will provide ongoing training and production expertise.
  
  For more information about eligibility, guidelines and grant application, click here...
  
  
• Maryland Value-Added Produce Grant Program (MARBIDCO) 
  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.”  For more information ...
  
  
• FY21 Commercial, Industrial & Agricultural Grant Program
  MEA is providing the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) Commercial, Industrial & Agricultural (CI&A) grant program to support improving the energy efficiency and reducing the energy costs of enterprises in Maryland’s commercial, industrial, and agricultural sector. The FY21 program will be divided into three separate application periods to best support energy efficiency projects for agriculture, manufacturing, and businesses that may be in varying planning stages or at various stages of readiness due to COVID-19. For more details ...
  
  
• Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program
  The Rural Cooperative Development Grant program improves the economic condition of rural areas by helping individuals and businesses start, expand or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through Cooperative Development Centers. Grants are awarded through a national competition. Each fiscal year, applications are requested through a notice published in the Federal Register and through an announcement posted on grants.gov.
  
  
• USDA Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG)
  VAPG Program is to enable viable agricultural producers to develop businesses that produce and market value-added agricultural products. Grants are made to agricultural producers (independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures). Grant funds must be used by the agricultural producer for either economic planning activities for the value-added venture or operational costs (working capital) limited to activities directly related to the processing and/or marketing of the value-added product. For more information ...

Loans

• Farm Credit    
  
  
• Maryland Agricultural & Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO)  
  
  
• Maryland Vineyard/Hopyard/Orchard Planting Loan Fund (MVPLF)
  Affordable financing to meet the unique financing needs of Maryland's landowners wanting to establish or expand vineyards, orchards and hopyards. Interest-only options are available for a period of two to three years.

•  Maryland Resource-Based Industry Financing Fund Loan (MRBIFF)
  The MRBIFF program makes available low-interest loans to qualified applicants for the purchase of land and capital equipment. Commercial lender participation is required. MARBIDCO may provide up to a maximum of 40% of any financing needed for a project under the condition that a commercial lender (and/or a public instrumentality) has at least an equal financial commitment in the project.

• Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit  
  
  

• USDA Microloan Program
  The focus of Microloans is on the financing needs of small, beginning farmer, niche and non-traditional farm operations, such as truck farms, farms participating in direct marketing and sales such as farmers’ markets, CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture), restaurants and grocery stores, or those using hydroponic, aquaponic, organic and vertical growing methods.

  Producers interested in applying for a microloan may contact their local Farm Service Agency office.