🚀 lunch. learn. lavender. Come celebrate Delmarva agriculture at producers unveiled 2024! 🌱

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CAIC News

14 Mar

Posted at 01:50h in CAIC News by

Grab your (free) tickets! Registration is open for this year’s Producers Unveiled, scheduled for Wednesday, April 17. CAIC’s annual culminating event celebrates our extraordinary program attendees and alumni, allowing them to showcase their products and share their stories of success. It’s also a perfect opportunity...

04 Mar

Posted at 03:10h in CAIC News by

Welcome to the first installment of our #AwesomeAlumni series, which will highlight some of the remarkable people who have participated in CAIC programs! For Delaware-based Hope’s Caramels, whose co-founder Brady Shuert was a member of the inaugural Producers Growth Program cohort in early 2023, the past...

16 Oct

Posted at 16:09h in CAIC News by

For Martin Proulx, the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s first-ever value-added agricultural specialist, the path to his current position began with a part-time job during college. “I don’t come into agriculture with the traditional background,” the Frostburg State University business and marketing graduate explains. As a...

15 Sep

Posted at 16:05h in CAIC News by

What if you could combat food waste and hunger at the same time? That’s one of the goals of the Maryland Food Bank’s Farm to Food Bank initiative. Started in 2011, the program sends volunteers to collect excess produce from local farms and distributes it...

27 Aug

Posted at 09:40h in CAIC News by

About the ProgramThe Producers Growth Program will provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to assess, plan, and execute a growth and scaling strategy for your business. At the start of the six-month program, you’ll be matched with an industry advisor who has...

26 Apr

Posted at 16:17h in CAIC News by

The USDA has recently opened their Value-Added Producers Grant. This grant helps value-added producers create new products, new marketing opportunities, and increased income.   The planning grant can be used to pay a qualified consultant and get support in developing a business plan, marketing plan or feasibility...

26 Apr

Posted at 16:05h in CAIC News by

We have several new and exciting opportunities at the center. Recently, we added Produce Safety Trainings designed to help farmers understand the process and requirements for becoming GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certified, enabling them to sell their products to institutional buyers. Lyndsay Gilmour is the...

06 Apr

Posted at 17:27h in CAIC News by

The Chesapeake Agriculture Innovation Center had an exciting month in March.   We hosted our first Value-Added Producers Unveiled event at the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Eight of our Business Growth Program participants had an opportunity to share their scaling plans with the 46 attendees.   We were honored...

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