The Maryland Agriculture & Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) is currently accepting applications for its Wood Products Industry Equity Incentive Grant Program.
Donor Name: Maryland Agriculture & Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO)
State: Maryland
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/16/2024
Size of the Grant: $15,000 – $50,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration not Mentioned
Details:
MARBIDCO recognizes the importance of the forest products industry from economic, environmental, and consumer perspectives, and thus seeks to assist in growing a strong and diversified wood products industry in Maryland. MARBIDCO aims to help Maryland’s forestry businesses improve operations and efficiency, increase productivity and employment opportunities, and support new market development.
The WPIEI Program offers up to a 25% matching grant, up to the maximum amount allowed, for the purchase of equipment or facilities improvement. An ancillary objective of this program is to complement the financial services offered by private commercial lenders by leveraging funds to facilitate larger scale projects which will enable industry growth. This program will help Maryland wood fiber harvesters, processors and manufacturers engage in increased production and utilization of locally sourced wood fiber, improve business operations and efficiency, and pursuit of new market opportunities.
Funding Information
Minimum / Maximum Amount of Grant: $15,000 / $50,000.
Eligible Expenses
Grant funds and matching funds must be used for equipment projects and capital asset purchases that have a useful life of seven years or more. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Wood processing equipment and facilities
- Sawmills
- Dry kilns
- Skidders and in-woods chippers
- Primary and secondary wood processing equipment
- Optimization systems for maximizing fiber yield recovery
- Shavings, pellet mills, and sawdust dryers
- Other capital equipment that is designed specifically for use in the forest products industry
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants include commercial timber harvesters, and primary or secondary wood products processors. Applicants can include sole proprietorships, partnerships, cooperatives, corporations, and LLCs. Grant funds and matching funds must be used for equipment and capital asset purchases that have a useful life of seven years or more. MARBIDCO is seeking applications for projects or purchases that will improve operations and/or efficiency, increase productivity and/or workforce expansion, support the production of value-added wood products, or aid in the pursuit of new markets. This should be evident in the project description and business plan.
- More specifically, commercial wood processing enterprises may apply for equipment and facilities project incentive grant funding to process or manufacture the following primary and secondary forest products: lumber, pilings, logs, firewood, mulch, pellets, shavings, veneers, flour, sawdust, plywood, millwork, CLT, and furniture (using Maryland wood). Forest harvesters are also eligible to apply.
For more information, visit MARBIDCO.
