For New Farmers
MARBIDCO helps Maryland's farm, forest, and seafood businesses achieve sustainable viability and profitability through targeted financial services.
One of our objectives is to foster emerging industries and assist new and beginning farmers in their business ventures.
For most MARBIDCO programs, practical farm and/or business experience is required (and may be supplemented by academic or hands-on training experience). Both our loan and grant programs require business plans and borrower financial information to be submitted.
If you have some experience in commercial agriculture, forestry or seafood, or are working with a mentor, you may qualify for one of our loan or grant programs.
In delivering our financing programs, we work cooperatively with commercial banks, Farm Credit Associations, and the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), as well as other federal, State and local government agencies and universities. Please contact us to find out which programs may be right for your business.
Rural Business Loan Programs
Maryland Resource-Based Industry Financing Fund (MRBIFF)
Low-interest loans to Ag/RBI-industry enterprises for the purchase of land and capital equipment for production and processing activities (including building construction). Maximum loan amount is $300,000 for acquisition of equipment and fixed assets, $600,000 for real estate purchases; and $900,000 for large-scale food/fiber processing projects. Learn more
Maryland Vineyard/Hopyard/ Orchard Planting Loan Fund
Low-interest loans to help meet the unique financing needs of Maryland's landowners wanting to plant fruit-bearing vines and trees. Maximum loan amount is $100,000 and an interest-only option is available for a period of two to three years. The purchase of tractors, pick-up trucks, and wine- or beer-making equipment are not eligible for financing under this particular program. Learn more
Agri-Business Equipment and Working Capital Loan Fund
The program helps address the unique financing needs of Maryland's agri-businesses that are not otherwise able to obtain commercial financing for working capital and equipment purchases from traditional commercial lenders such as banks or farm credit associations. The matching participation of a local or regional revolving loan program is required Maximum loan is $100,000. Learn more
Forestry Equipment and Working Capital Loan Fund
Loans for Maryland forest product businesses with respect to working capital equipment purchases. Maximum loan amount is $150,000. Learn more
Specialty Loan Programs
Maryland Shellfish Aquaculture Financing Fund
To help watermen (and others) transition from wild oyster harvesting to start or expand underwater shellfish farming enterprises using leased growing areas in the Chesapeake or Coastal Bay plans. Loans proceeds may be used to purchase shell, seed, spat, or equipment. Bottom culture and water column (cages or floats) projects are eligible. Learn more
Maryland Remote Setting Shellfish Aquaculture Loan Fund
Financing for commercial watermen who want to start (or expand) shellfish remote setting (nursery) operations. Learn more
Rural Business Energy Efficiency Improvement Loan Fund
Loans for energy efficiency projects undertaken by food and fiber producers and processors implementing the recommendations of a third-party energy auditor. Learn More
MARBIDCO/Southern Maryland Partnership Programs
MARBIDCO is now partnering with the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland and the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) to support farming in the five counties (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George's and St. Mary's) with the following two programs:
- The Southern Maryland Agricultural Equity Incentive Matching Fund, offered in conjunction with MARBIDCO's lending programs, is designed to incentivize loan requests from farmers and to help them meet certain down-payment (equity) requirements, in order to help improve the credit quality of their applications.
- The Southern Maryland Revolving Loan Fund for Agricultural Producers, a loan program designed exclusively for Southern Maryland applicants to assist with the purchase of livestock, shellfish acquaculture foundation development and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) upgrades. Loans from $10,000 - $20,000 are available and include a partial forgiveness for good loan repayment performance. Learn more about both programs.