Farmers and food entrepreneurs in Garrett County have a new opportunity to sharpen their business plans at no cost. The University of Maryland Extension is now accepting applications for its Maryland Agribusiness Coaching Level 2 Program, a free eight-week course aimed at helping agricultural businesses move to their next stage of growth.
The program is designed for people in a few different situations: those rolling out a new product, those trying to break into new markets, and those looking to line up financing for expansion. Rather than generic business advice, participants work directly with University of Maryland Extension faculty to build out a business plan suited to their specific operation, then get additional feedback from a professional business consultant along the way.
That kind of one-on-one guidance can be hard to come by for small, independent farm operations that don’t have in-house staff dedicated to business planning or financial strategy. By pairing participants with both academic expertise and outside consulting, the program aims to give farm businesses a more complete picture of what it takes to grow sustainably.
The next eight-week session begins September 28. Farmers and food entrepreneurs interested in applying are encouraged to reach out to the University of Maryland Extension for details on eligibility and how to enroll.
Source: Garrett County, MD Business Development newsletter, August 2026.
