ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) has announced that it has established a Maryland Livestock Processing Equipment Grant Program to help assist with the expansion of livestock processing capacity in Maryland. This program offers grants to eligible applicants to purchase livestock and meat processing equipment and/or upgrade facilities to help increase production in Maryland, with a particular focus on large-animal and blue catfish processing. (Smaller scale poultry processing projects may also be eligible.)

For the Maryland Livestock Processing Equipment Grant Program, MARBIDCO will contribute up to 50% towards the eligible costs, with a maximum grant award amount of $50,000 for USDA-inspected facility projects and maximum grant award amount of $30,000 for custom-exempt processing or mobile processing projects.

Eligible applicants include individuals and businesses who currently operate livestock and meat processing enterprises in Maryland, as well as those that can start such operations by no than June 30, 2023. 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 April 1, 2023, are not eligible to be reimbursed using these grant funds.

The Livestock Processing Equipment Grant Program application deadline is June 1, 2023. 

For more information about the Maryland Livestock Processing Equipment Grant Program, contact Sierra Criste, MARBIDCO Financial Programs Associate, by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (410) 267-6807.

–MARBIDCO