The FY 2025 Upper Shore Agriculture Grant Program is offered by the Cecil County Office of Economic Development to support local agricultural businesses in Cecil County, Maryland. The grant is designed to help agricultural enterprises expand, diversify, improve marketing efforts, undertake capital improvement projects, or conduct agricultural research initiatives. The purpose of this program is to promote the development, sustainability, and coordination of agricultural activities within the county. The grant is partially funded by the Upper Shore Regional Council, a regional entity that works to support economic development within the area.

For Fiscal Year 2025, the program has $78,000 in funding available. Grant requests can range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000, with applications considered on a competitive basis. Priority will be given to projects that have a broad impact on the agricultural community, foster cooperation between businesses, involve emerging markets, enhance climate resiliency, support underrepresented groups such as BIPOC, women, and veteran farmers, and promote the Cecil Grown Buy Local campaign. In addition, applicants who have not received a Micro Ag Grant in previous rounds will receive special consideration. However, past grant recipients are still encouraged to apply for new initiatives or projects.

Eligible applicants must be agricultural businesses operating in Cecil County and actively involved in one or more of the following categories: crop and livestock production (including equine), agricultural product processing, agricultural education or support, agricultural cooperatives, or timber production and processing. To qualify, applicants must be in good standing with both the State of Maryland and Cecil County, and businesses must also be registered with the state if required by law.

Grant funding can be used for a variety of purposes, including strategic marketing campaigns, technology innovation and implementation, climate resiliency projects, capital improvements for business start-up or expansion, educational or research projects, and animal welfare improvements. To apply, applicants must submit a completed and signed application, a signed W9 form, proof of good standing with the State of Maryland, an Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Form (if direct deposit is preferred), and a voided check if submitting the direct deposit form.

Applications will be accepted starting January 13, 2025, with a submission deadline of 11:59 p.m. on March 1, 2025. Award recipients will be announced in March 2025. It is important to note that grants will be provided on a reimbursement basis, meaning that grantees must submit paid invoices and receipts as proof of expenses when requesting reimbursement. Reimbursement requests must be submitted no later than May 26, 2025.

Applicants will receive a confirmation email once their applications are received. The applications will be reviewed by a grant review committee, and applicants will be notified by email regarding whether they have been approved for full, partial, or no funding. Reimbursement requests and forms can be submitted online via the official Cecil County agriculture website. If applicants have any questions, they are encouraged to contact Ariel Balog, the Agricultural Industry Coordinator, at abalog@cecilcountymd.gov or call her at 410-996-8469.