Agriculture Innovation Grant Applications Being Taken In Frederick County

Farmers can apply for funds to expand or diversify their businesses.

Farm in Frederick County, Maryland

 

 

Frederick, Md (KM) Between July 1st and the 31st, Frederick County Government will be taking applications for Agriculture Industry Innovation Grants. Farmers can apply for competitive grants of $5,000 or more to help expand or diversify  their business operations. The county says the program is designed to make  agriculture a  viable and profitable industry for future generations of farmers.

Applicants must be a crop or livestock farmer, a value-added producer, an agricultural cooperative, seafood processor or primary or secondary timber products processor. The money can be used for research and development, production buildings, major fixtures or processing facilities, county officials say.

To apply, go to www.DiscoverFrederickCountyMD.com/ag_innovation_grant. If you would like a printed application, contact Katie Stevens, the Associate Director of Agriculture Business Development in the Office of Economic Development,  at 240-285-2795. You can also send her an e-mail at [email protected].

A review committee will look over and score all applications, and make recommendations to the County Executive, a process expected to take four to six weeks after the application period closes. .

The County says more than 30 applications were received for last round of Agricultural Industry Innovation Grants last January, when $306,000 was awarded to 14 farming operations. These projects are expected to create 11 full time and 17 part time positions in Frederick County.

 

 

By Kevin McManus