MARBIDCO has established the 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.
MARBIDCO will contribute up to 50% towards the eligible costs, with a maximum grant award amount of $50,000 for USDA-inspected slaughter facility projects (including meat and blue catfish processing) and a maximum grant award amount of $20,000 for other USDA-inspected facilities, secondary blue catfish processing for commercial distribution, 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 no later than December 31, 2025. These applicants can include sole proprietorships, partnerships, cooperatives, corporations, or LLCs.
Grant funds (and matching funds paid by the applicant) must be used to purchase livestock and meat processing equipment and/ or upgrade facilities for USDA-inspected facilities, custom-exempt or mobile processing projects. Expenses incurred prior to September 2, 2025, are not eligible to be reimbursed using these grant funds.
CLICK HERE to access the application and program description.
The application deadline is October 24, 2025.
For additional information, please contact Sierra Criste, MARBIDCO Financial Programs Specialist, at (410) 267-6807 or scriste@marbidco.org.
