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Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Program
In 2022, the Mills Administration invested approximately $20 million in federal funds to help Maine farmers and food processors improve critical infrastructure. This funding enabled 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 partnered with Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI) to administer the Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Program (AIIP). The program has closed.
AIIP represented a one-time opportunity supported by federal emergency funding available during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department understands that there is a further need for financial support within Maine agriculture, and is committed to advocating for additional funding that can support future investment programs.
In August 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.
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
A range of funding was offered through AIIP, including smaller grants for on-farm improvements and larger grants for processing projects. There was no 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.