Maryland Value-Added Producer Matching Grant

The Maryland Value-Added Producer Matching Grant (MVAPMG) (USDA Option) is a competitive financial assistance program administered by the Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO). This program is designed to support Maryland-based agricultural producers who are applying to the USDA’s national Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. MARBIDCO, a state-level organization committed to advancing the profitability and sustainability of Maryland’s farm, forestry, and seafood businesses, provides this matching grant to reduce barriers to federal funding by contributing up to 15% of the required non-federal match under USDA’s guidelines. The USDA VAPG program, which opens on January 15, 2026, supports producers with planning and working capital grants. Planning grants assist with feasibility studies and business plan development, while working capital grants support operational expenses necessary to develop and market value-added agricultural products. The USDA program does not fund equipment or capital infrastructure, and therefore the MARBIDCO MVAPMG also excludes these expenditures. Instead, it offers up to $7,500 in matching funds for Planning Grants and up to $25,000 for Working Capital Grants. To receive funding from MARBIDCO, applicants must first be awarded a USDA VAPG grant. To apply for the MARBIDCO match, applicants must submit a complete MVAPMG application by 4:00 p.m. on April 1, 2026, or have their mailed application postmarked by March 27, 2026. As part of their submission, applicants are required to include a completed USDA VAPG application with all necessary attachments. Once MARBIDCO reviews and qualifies an application, a commitment letter will be issued approximately seven days before the USDA’s April 15, 2026 deadline. This letter can be used by the applicant in their federal application to demonstrate committed matching funds. However, disbursement of funds from MARBIDCO will only occur if the applicant receives an official USDA VAPG award. Eligible applicants must meet USDA criteria for value-added producers, which include independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer or rancher cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures. Additionally, applicants must be Maryland-based and must produce a qualifying value-added agricultural product as defined by USDA regulations. Products may be considered value-added if they are physically transformed, produced in a manner that enhances value, segregated for special marketing, involved in local processing, or used in farm-to-institution models. Products that rely on capital equipment or facility acquisition are not eligible under this grant. The MVAPMG program is structured to increase Maryland producers’ competitiveness in securing USDA funding, and its grant awards are limited by both federal award success and the availability of MARBIDCO resources. Applicants are reminded that the total amount of MARBIDCO grant funding a single entity may receive across all incentive programs is capped at $50,000. The program's goal is to catalyze value-added innovation and entrepreneurial development in Maryland’s agricultural economy by enhancing access to external federal funding and encouraging strategic business planning. All applications and inquiries regarding the MVAPMG should be directed to Brittany Rawlings at MARBIDCO. Applications may be submitted electronically to [email protected] or mailed to MARBIDCO MVAPG Program, 1410 Forest Drive, Suite 21, Annapolis, MD 21403. Additional information, including the fillable application form, is available online. Support is also available via the Maryland/Delaware USDA Rural Development office for questions related to the USDA VAPG itself. MARBIDCO’s MVAPMG program plays an essential role in strengthening Maryland’s food and fiber sectors by making it more accessible for producers to participate in competitive federal funding opportunities.