Grant Program

Local Government Agriculture & Resource-Based Industry Project Cost Share Program

A grant program matching rural business development investments by local governments and regional councils.

Program Oveview

MARBIDCO strives to have a close working relationship with local and regional economic development offices, recognizing the important role that these offices can play in fostering the retention and growth of Maryland’s existing and emerging agricultural and resource-based businesses.

To lend support to local rural business development efforts, as well as to guide county and municipal economic development officials,

MARBIDCO has created a grant program to match rural business development investments being made by local governments and rural regional development councils.

Maximum Grant Amounts

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$10,000 maximum grant

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Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) matching grants are capped at $5,000

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Deer fences and farm-operation solar systems or generators capped at $3,000

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$25,000 total per government jurisdiction per fiscal year

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Project Criteria

For MARBIDCO to participate in an economic development cost-share project with a unit of local government or a regional council, the following criteria must be met:.

Project Criteria

MARBIDCO will consider a project cost-share request from a local economic development office if the project fits within MARBIDCO’s statutorily established economic development profile. Any project activity funded by MARBIDCO must assist in some fashion Maryland’s farming, forestry, or seafood industries (including potentially agritourism activities).

Businesses that produce foodstuffs or other goods that grow in the soil or in the water, and the packaging and/or value-added processing and marketing of any such products, are generally eligible targets of MARBIDCO’s programs.

Water and air quality improvement projects that contribute to business sustainability may also be eligible.

Private Equity Contribution

If a project directly benefits an individual farmer or rural business owner, then the farmer or business owner must be willing to make a financial contribution to the project.

The amount of a business owner’s equity contribution can vary depending on the individual circumstances.

Projects that do not directly involve individual business owners (such as industry feasibility studies) may not require private equity contributions.

Application Process

Application Submission Process

1

Local or regional submission

Applications must be submitted by a local or regional economic development office.

2

Own-source funds

The governmental entity’s funds must be own-source rather than pass-through.

3

Submit application

Send to:

MARBIDCO Local Government Grant Program, Attn: Daniela Merkle, 1410 Forest Drive, Suite 21, Annapolis, MD 21403, or dmerkle@marbidco.org.

Maryland Economic Development Offices We Have Partnered With

  • Anne Arundel
  • Cecil
  • Howard
  • Kent
  • Montgomery
  • Queen Anne
  • Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development Inc.
  • Town of Mount Airy
  • Worcester