Many agricultural operations require a substantial investment in land, equipment, and buildings. As costs continue to rise, these expenses serve as an obstacle to farmers and deter others from starting their own farms.
 
Fortunately, farmers can access low-interest loans and lines of credit  (though their local Certified Economic Development Organization) from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority to help manage these costs. In Chester County, this work is administered by the Chester County Economic Development Council.
 
Under the statute, loans from the PIDA Small Business First Fund are capped at $400,000, far less than the $2 million available to non-agricultural enterprises through the same program. This legislation calls for increasing the cap for ag loans through the Small Business First Fund program from $400,000 to $2,000,000. This change will bring consistency to the program for both ag and non-ag loans and provide more opportunities for more farmers who rely on these investments to start and expand their operations.