MARBIDCO Relief Act Programs

Maryland Livestock Processing Equipment Relief Grant Program

Designed to support livestock processing

Overview

During the 2021 Maryland General Assembly session, the Recovery for the Economy, Livelihoods, Industries, Entrepreneurs and Families (RELIEF) Act was passed to provide immediate funding for Maryland’s families and business to help them continue to weather the COVID-19 pandemic. From the RELIEF Act, MARBIDCO received funding to establish a number of programs to help provide pandemic adjustment support to certain rural industry sectors and provide targeted aid to assist with the production and processing of local food products.

For the Livestock Processing Equipment Relief Grant, MARBIDCO will contribute up to 75% towards the eligible costs, with a maximum grant award amount of $100,000 for USDA-inspected facility projects and maximum grant award amount of $70,000 for custom-exempt processing or mobile processing projects.

Eligible applicants include individuals and businesses who currently operate livestock processing enterprises in Maryland as well as those that can start such operations by no later June 30, 2021. These applicants can include sole proprietorships, partnerships, cooperatives, corporations, or LLCs.

Eligible expenses: Grant funds (and matching funds paid by the applicant) must be used to purchase livestock and meat processing equipment for USDA-inspected facilities, custom-exempt or mobile processing projects. Livestock processing equipment items purchased prior to March 1, 2021 are not eligible to be reimbursed using these grant funds.

Grant Minimum: $1,000

Grant Maximum: $100,000 per project for USDA-inspected facilities. $70,000 per project for custom-exempt or mobile processing

Match Required: Applicants are required to pay at least 25% of eligible project costs.