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ABOUT CAIC

The Chesapeake Agriculture Innovation Center (CAIC) began in 2020 as an initiative of the non-profit Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center (ESEC). Founded in 2004, ESEC promotes economic development in the agriculture and aquaculture sectors—two industries that have traditionally been integral to our region.

In founding CAIC, we sought to create a dedicated resource hub specifically for the region’s farmers and value-added producers. Today, our team provides tailored education and training, consulting services, access to capital, and other tools to support agribusiness development. From product development to scaling, and from produce safety training to grant writing, we’re here to help you grow.

Our Mission

CAIC is committed to supporting and nurturing the business growth of farmers and producers in the agriculture and aquaculture sectors. We believe in their power and potential, and recognize their crucial role in the regional food supply chain. When our farmers and producers thrive, our entire region can thrive.

As we continue to expand our courses and services, we remain committed to our core mission: empowering the business growth of farmers and producers. In the longer term, our goal is to create a leading hub on the Eastern Shore for innovation and technology in agriculture and aquaculture—one that could serve as a model for other regions.

Our Work 

CAIC supports farmers and value-added producers in a number of ways:

Educating farmers and producers at all stages

CAIC offers education and training programs designed for all stages of growth. From our idea-stage Startup Program to our scaling-focused Producers Growth Program, we equip farmers and producers with essential skills. We also provide personalized food safety training and on-farm produce safety consultations, helping farmers ensure regulatory compliance. 

Visit our Programs page to learn more, or take our quiz to find the program that’s right for you.

Empowering business growth

CAIC also provides access to training, consulting, and capital—essential building blocks for business success. From business plan development and market research to grant writing and legal support, we offer a range of resources that can be easily customized. Services are provided in house or through our vetted consultants, and they’re all available either free of charge or at a reduced cost. 

Visit our Business Resources page to learn more, or take our quiz to be matched with a CAIC consultant.

Building a thriving community

CAIC is committed to building a thriving community of farmers and producers throughout Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Through educational webinars and other events, including our annual Producers Unveiled showcase, we help people connect and collaborate. Our free on-demand training and networking platform, AgriBiz Hub, enables farmers and producers to learn new skills on their own time, build connections, and browse resources. 

Visit our AgriBiz Hub page to learn more, or visit our Events page to see what’s next on our calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is behind CAIC and how is it funded?

The Chesapeake Agriculture Innovation Center (CAIC) was founded in 2020 as an initiative of the Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center (ESEC), a non-profit organization established in 2004. We are supported by the USDA and other trusted partners. All of our programs are 100% real and designed to help farmers and value-added producers grow their businesses.

We understand that it can be surprising to find high-quality programs offered at no cost. Thanks to generous grant funding from the USDA and other partners, we are currently able to offer our services free of charge or at significantly reduced rates. This is part of our mission to make business support accessible to farmers and producers. 

Our services are primarily designed for farmers, aquaculture businesses, and value-added producers located in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. However, participants from other states are welcome to join selected programs when space is available.

CAIC offers support at every stage of business development. We provide live courses and one-on-one consulting for everything from early-stage planning to scaling operations. Our business services include food safety and produce safety guidance, business plan development, marketing support, and grant writing assistance. We also have a dedicated value chain coordination team that helps connect producers with wholesale buyers. In addition, we host an online community of farmers through our AgriBiz Hub platform, where participants can access training on demand, network with peers, and engage in community discussions.

A value-added product is an agricultural commodity that has been changed in physical state or form or has been produced in a way that enhances its value. The key goal is to expand the customer base and/or generate greater revenue for the producer than from the raw product alone. Examples include:

  • Turning fruit into jam.
  • Locally grown wheat into flour or flour into artisan bread cookies, or pastries.
  • Processing raw milk into cheese or yogurt.
  • Vegetables into salsa, or bagged salad mix.
  • Processing raw meat into sausages.
  • Creating agritourism opportunities on a farm.

    • If you’re not sure where to begin, we recommend starting with our program-matching quiz . It only takes a few minutes and will direct you to the most relevant course or business service based on your current stage and goals.

    To get started, you can take the quiz , join AgriBiz Hub to explore our online community and on-demand resources, or fill out a registration form to sign up for any of our courses or business services mentioned above. You can also reach out to our team directly at 301.635.4365 if you have questions or need guidance on the best next steps.

    MINI-GRANTs

    Mini-Grants up to $5,000 are available for:
    – Market Research and Validation of Target Market
    – Customer Acquisition
    – Product Development Initiatives
    – Food Safety Classes
    Eligibility
    Value-added producers and companies with traction ($20,000 or more in yearly revenue) in Maryland and Delaware are eligible to apply for Mini-Grants. Participants may apply once for each of the categories. Applicants must demonstrate that they have a unique and differentiated product or service that incorporates an aspect of innovation or technology in its production, processing, distribution, or other element of the food supply system.
    Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Award decisions will be made and funds will be available no later than three weeks following the receipt of a completed application.
    Application Process
    Applicants must submit Mini-Grant proposals by filling out the form at this link. Copy(ies) of quote(s), proposal(s), estimate(s), or any other supporting documents.

    MINI GRANT APPLICATION

    ACCESS TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS (SMES)

    CAIC offers access to Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who can offer authoritative advice based on their deep knowledge and experience in a specific area. See the ADVISORS page of this Web site to learn more about the SMEs who are available to CAIC participants.

    Register For The CAIC