MARBIDCO Cold Storage Grant Available

Annapolis (August 31, 2023) – The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) is offering the Maryland Producer Cold Storage Grant Program to assist farmers and watermen with purchasing cold storage equipment needed for their operations. Matching grants of up to $2,000 are now available.

Having access to adequate cold storage facilities is frequently cited as a need, especially by smaller farm operations, so hopefully the availability of these grant funds will incentivize cold storage equipment purchases by food producing enterprises. MARBIDCO will match up to 50% of the cost of the project purchase, with a maximum grant award amount being $2,000. The minimum grant award is $500 (meaning therefore, that the minimum project or equipment purchase size is $1,000).

Eligible applicants include farmers and watermen with at least $1,000 in agricultural or seafood product sales annually.  The applications may come from sole proprietorships, partnerships, cooperatives, and LLCs.  Agricultural products may include produce, livestock, shellfish, or horticultural products that are grown on the applicant’s farm. Seafood products include finfish and shellfish products that are harvested in Maryland.

The grant funds and matching funds must be used to purchase and install cold storage equipment. Eligible tangible equipment that may be purchased include:

• Large coolers
• Ice machines
• On-boat or On-dock cold storage
• Reach-in refrigerator/freezer
• Walk-in refrigerator/freezer
• On-truck cold storage (does not include costs related to purchase a truck)
• Third-party costs related to installation of cold storage unit or construction of cold storage facility

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, and the deadline is November 17, 2023 (electronic submissions are encouraged). Application forms are available on MARBIDCO’s website: www.marbidco.org.

For more information, please call Brittany Rawlings at 410.267.6807 or send application forms electronically to brawlings@marbico.org or mail to: MARBIDCO, Cold Storage Grant Program, c/o Brittany Rawlings, 1410 Forest Drive, Suite 21, Annapolis, MD 21403.