Financing to Help Your Business Take Root & Grow

Geography:

Maine

Sector:

Farm eligibility is based on active agricultural production, business intent, and operational viability rather than acreage size. Small-scale farms, including operations under one acre, may qualify where the production system, markets, and financial capacity support the proposed investment

Uses:

• Ag production equipment and installation • Construction, renovation, fit-up of ag infrastructure including: – Barns, washpack, high tunnels, greenhouses – Storage, cold storage structures – Fencing, other pasture management – Energy or climate-resilience improvements • Limited working capital

Amount:

Up to $1,000,000

Interest Rate:

6.0% – 8.0%

Typical Term:

5-7 years

Other Features / Requirements:

• Demonstrate secured land tenure (ownership, lease, other documented access) • Demonstrate 12 months of farm revenue, and/or other farm management experience

Geography:

Maine

Sector:

• Property primarily for agricultural use and purposes • PFAS testing (if applicable) • P&S or equivalent option to buy

Uses:

• Purchase of real property • Acquisition of estblished farm buildings and permanent agricultural structures • Appraisal fees • Land surveys • Fees associated with conservation, organic transition, land-use restrictions required at closing • Limited rehab or immediate repair to place property into immediate ag use • Refinance of seller-held notes or short-term acquisition debt tied to purcahse of property (case-by-case) • Limited working capital

Amount:

Up to $1,000,000

Interest Rate:

6.0% – 8.0%

Typical Term:

10 Years

Other Features / Requirements:

• Property purchase supports at least one of the following: – Farm viability or continuity – Entry of beginner farmer – Intergenerational transition – Conservation of working lands • Appraisal or comparable market analysis • Demonstrate 24 months of farm revenue, and/or other farm management experience

Geography:

Maine

Sector:

Food/Farm business engaged in value added production (start-ups considered); commitment to local/regional raw ingredient sourcing preferred.

Uses:

• VA processing equipment • Facility fit-up • Expand/improve processing capacity • Revenue-tied inventory purchases • Limited working capital that directly supports VA production including – HACCP – Marketing & Promotion – Packaging/Labeling – Inventory management

Amount:

Up to $250,000

Interest Rate:

6.0%-8.0%

Typical Term:

5-7 years

Other Features / Requirements

Additional eligibility requirements: • Demonstrated site control of processing space (ownership, lease, etc.)

Geography:

New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) and New York

Sector:

Any species eligible for USDA inspection include cattle, sheep, swine, goats, catfish, and equine. Poultry species amenable to USDA inspection include chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, ratites, and squabs (young pigeons).

Uses:

Predevelopment, real property and business acquisition, construction, working capital, machinery, and equipment.

Amount:

Up to $2.5 million

Interest Rate:

Fixed Rate of 6.0%

Typical Term:

Up to 10 years, with amortization over 20 years possible.

Other Features / Requirements:

NOTE: The following species are not eligible for voluntary federal inspection or this lending program: rabbit, antelope, bison, buffalo, catalo or cattalo, deer, elk, reindeer, water buffalo, yak; voluntary poultry, migratory waterfowl, and game birds.

Geography:

New England

Sector:

Business selling food directly to consumers (eg. grocery retail, farm stand, farmers market, CSA) OR distributing food to grocery in underserved areas

Uses:

• Equipment • Facility expansion or improvement • Business purchase • Revenue-tied inventory purchases • Limited working capital that directly supports healthy food sales – SNAP training or implementation – Marketing & Promotion – Packaging/Labeling – Inventory management – Software purchase and implementation •Other uses considered

Amount:

Up to $550,000

Interest Rate:

Inquire for more detail

Typical Term:

5-7 years

Other Features / Requirements

•SNAP must be accepted and tracked •Must be located in an eligible low-income or rural census tract as defined by the USDA – contact Bradley.Russell@ceimaine.org to see if you qualify