The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corp. (MARBIDCO) has announced a grant funding opportunity to encourage Maryland farmers to expand or diversify their businesses by purchasing equipment or fixtures to make a product that is “value added.”

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.

Hemp fiber grower-processors may be eligible to apply under certain conditions and must have been in business in Maryland on or before June 30, 2020.

MARBIDCO will offer incentive grants of between $2,500 and $10,000, distributed on a competitive basis, for capital projects that help farmers, forest product operations and seafood processors to expand or diversify their businesses through value-added activities. The financial match required must be at least equal to the amount requested from MARBIDCO.

The application deadline is 4 p.m. on Sept. 24. Applications received in the mail with a Sept. 16 postmark will also be accepted. Grant award announcements will be made by mid-November.

An application and further information about the MVAPG-CAO Program can be obtained by contacting Daniel Sweeney, MARBIDCO financial programs associate, at 410-267-6807 or email  [email protected], or by visiting marbidco.org.

Source: The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corp., which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.