DACF Home → Bureaus & Programs → Bureau of Agriculture → Agricultural Resource Development Division → Grants → Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Program
Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Program
August 19, 2022 - Funding was awarded to 64 agricultural businesses. The awards ranged from $41,669 to $500,000, averaging $301,217. Awards were distributed to a mix of different scales and types of production across all sixteen counties.
Additional details will be issued shortly – including formal award letters and decision notices.
Funding will be released after the appeal period has ended. Should no appeals be received, funds are anticipated to be released between 9/30/22 and 10/15/22. In the event that any appeals are received, the timeline for funding distribution will likely be revised.
DACF will provide grant agreements and other necessary information to funding recipients. For the many compelling projects that were not awarded grants through AIIP, we will provide a list of alternative funding resources that may help finance infrastructure upgrades at your farms and businesses.
We understand that there is a further need for financial support within Maine agriculture, and DACF is committed to advocating for additional funding that can support future investment programs.
FAQs
Can I receive feedback on the merits of my individual application or project? +
No. Unfortunately, the high volume of applications received prevents us from providing customized feedback on individual submissions.
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Can I learn more about the AIIP review process? +
- After receiving more than 850 applications totaling nearly $180 million in funding requests, evaluation of AIIP submissions involved a rigorous, months-long review of the hundreds of qualified applications received.
- Following eligibility assessment, multiple levels of quantitative and qualitative scoring were applied. Scoring criteria were directly aligned with the investment goals and priorities outlined in the AIIP Program Guidelines.
- In addition to internal assessments, more than 40 external reviewers performed in-depth evaluations of AIIP applications. Only a small percentage of projects were funded in what was a highly competitive process.
- There are many worthy, compelling projects that, unfortunately, will not receive AIIP awards due to funding limitations. However, given the high level of interest in the program, we understand that there is further need for financial support and great opportunity for investment within Maine’s agricultural and food processing sectors, and we are committed to advocating for additional funding that can support future programs.
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Are there other funding programs I could consider if I didn’t receive an AIIP grant? +
All AIIP applicants who were not approved for an AIIP grant will receive a list of alternative funding sources with their formal decision letter (to be sent by the Department).
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Will there be future rounds of AIIP funding that I can apply for? +
AIIP was made possible by a one-time allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal funding through the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan. While further funding through AIIP is not guaranteed, DACF is committed to advocating for additional support from other potential sources.
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What role did CEI play in the AIIP process? +
Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) was contracted as the Department’s third-party grant administrator. CEI’s support for the program implementation process was critical to its success. All decision-making authority resided with DACF.
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Please contact us via email at AIIPGrant.DACF@maine.gov with any questions.
Award Recipients
| Business Name | County | Amount Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Creek Farm | Sagadahoc | $250,000.00 |
| Aroostook Band of Micmacs | Aroostook | $250,000.00 |
| Aurora Mills & Farm, LLC | Aroostook | $499,911.00 |
| Baker Brook Farm Creamery | Cumberland | $250,000.00 |
| Bigelow Brewing Company | Somerset | $500,000.00 |
| Black Acres Farm, LLC | Franklin | $224,500.00 |
| Blue Barn, LLC dba Bluet | Cumberland | $178,000.00 |
| Blue Barrens Farm | Washington | $120,347.45 |
| Blue Hill Berry Co. | Hancock | $454,550.00 |
| Blue Ox Blueberries | Hancock | $127,650.00 |
| Blue Ox Malthouse | Androscoggin | $500,000.00 |
| Brodis Blueberries | Knox | $500,000.00 |
| Buck Family Farms, LLC | Aroostook | $500,000.00 |
| Caldwell Family Farm | Androscoggin | $250,000.00 |
| Circle B Farms, LLC | Aroostook | $250,000.00 |
| Common Wealth Poultry Co | Kennebec | $500,000.00 |
| Crooked Face Creamery | Somerset | $66,019.00 |
| Crystal Spring Community Farm, LLC - DBA Crystal Spring Farm | Cumberland | $133,514.90 |
| Emery Farm | Kennebec | $246,482.00 |
| Fitzpatrick & Peabody Farms, LLC | Aroostook | $250,000.00 |
| Five Pillars Butchery House of Meat, LLC | Waldo | $250,000.00 |
| Frith Farm, LLC | Cumberland | $247,775.00 |
| Goranson Farm | Lincoln | $41,669.00 |
| Grace Pond Farm, LLC | Knox | $247,957.80 |
| Greener Days Farm | Lincoln | $249,947.68 |
| Harvesting Good | Androscoggin/Cumberland | $500,000.00 |
| Hatch's Custom Meat Cutting, LLC | Aroostook | $381,789.40 |
| Heiwa Tofu Inc | Knox | $456,791.00 |
| Herring Brothers Meats | Piscataquis | $498,000.00 |
| Houlton Farms Dairy, Inc. | Aroostook | $497,550.00 |
| Kennebec Cheesery at Koons Farm | Kennebec | $47,730.00 |
| Maine Crisp Company, LLC | Kennebec | $497,798.00 |
| Maine Food Group | Cumberland | $500,000.00 |
| Maine Grains, Inc. | Somerset | $500,000.00 |
| Maple Lane Farms, LLC | Penobscot | $500,000.00 |
| McLaughlin Family Farms, LLC | Aroostook | $250,000.00 |
| Merrill Blueberry Farms, Inc. | Hancock | $500,000.00 |
| Michaud Farm | Kennebec | $159,456.82 |
| Nature's Circle Farm | Aroostook | $250,000.00 |
| Olde Haven Farm, LLC | Kennebec | $250,000.00 |
| Pachanga LLC dba Tortilleria Pachanga | Cumberland | $308,104.48 |
| Pumpkin Vine Family Farm, LLC | Lincoln | $250,000.00 |
| R A S Wines | Cumberland | $443,500.00 |
| Rainbow Farm | Hancock | $125,705.00 |
| Ricker Hill Orchards | Androscoggin | $250,000.00 |
| Roux's Farm, LLC | York | $80,000.00 |
| Rusted Rooster Farm | Piscataquis | $250,000.00 |
| Seal Cove Farm | Hancock | $67,742.00 |
| Six River Farm, LLC | Sagadahoc | $250,000.00 |
| Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine, DBA Liberation Farms | Androscoggin | $223,476.00 |
| Southpaw Packing Company, Inc. | Cumberland | $500,000.00 |
| Spear Farms, Inc. | Lincoln | $250,000.00 |
| Springdale Jerseys, Inc. | Waldo | $153,622.00 |
| The Margolin Family Farm and Processing | Oxford | $221,610.69 |
| The Milkhouse | Kennebec | $139,200.00 |
| Thirty Acre Farm Rules | Lincoln | $250,000.00 |
| Thomas Farms | Penobscot | $249,420.00 |
| Tide Mill Organic Farm, LLC | Washington | $497,569.50 |
| Troy A Thibodeau, DBA Fleece, Feathers and Swine | Androscoggin | $250,000.00 |
| Two Farmers Farm, LLC | York | $250,000.00 |
| Ummah Enterprise, LLC | Androscoggin | $175,152.99 |
| Weston's Meat and Poultry | Kennebec | $500,000.00 |
| Winter Hill Farm, LLC | Cumberland | $250,000.00 |
| WR Allen, Inc | Hancock | $465,317.89 |
About the Program
The Mills Administration has invested approximately $20 million in federal funds to help Maine farmers and food processors improve critical infrastructure. This funding will enable farms and agricultural businesses to pursue upgrades that will mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19, increase the supply of Maine-grown food, enhance supply chain resilience, and help grow and sustain one of Maine's heritage industries.
DACF is partnering with Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI) to administer the Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Program (AIIP).
- The deadline to apply was February 25, 2022.
- Available resources:
- AIIP Overview & Application
- AIIP Guidelines & Eligibility
- AIIP FAQs
- Informational webinars about the AIIP
- Webinars occurred on January 4 and 11
- Webinar recording is available on CEI website
- "Office hours," to discuss application questions
- For questions, email aggrantsupport@ceimaine.org
A range of funding will be offered through AIIP, including smaller grants for on-farm improvements and larger grants for processing projects. There will be no match required and no minimum request amount.
Examples of eligible investments include:
- Capital improvements, including modifications to existing buildings and construction of new buildings;
- Upgrades to utilities (including water, electric, heat, refrigeration, freezing, and waste facilities);
- Growing, processing, and manufacturing equipment and construction;
- Packaging and handling equipment;
- Technology that allows increased capacity or business resilience (including software and hardware related to business functions, logistics, inventory management, plant production and monitoring controls, to enable extended or year-round production); and
- Technical assistance, including market research and feasibility studies, engineering and construction planning, land use planning, facility design and configuration planning, and other services that directly support future implementation of infrastructure-related capacity-building projects.