The Howard County Enhanced Agricultural Grant provides financial support to projects that enhance, sustain, or educate about agricultural practices within Howard County, Maryland. Funded by the Agricultural Preservation Fund and managed by the Howard County Economic Development Authority in partnership with the Office of Agriculture, this grant supports a range of initiatives, including programming, research, and capital investments. Grants of up to $250,000 are available, with a total annual fund of $500,000. Award amounts generally range between $20,000 and $70,000 to ensure funds are distributed among multiple projects.

Applications are due by February 28, 2025, and must be submitted via email to Aggrants@howardcountymd.gov. Awards will be announced by the end of March 2025. Grantees receive an initial 20% of their grant value upfront, with reimbursement for subsequent expenditures based on submission of receipts and documentation. Grantees must spend the entire grant amount within 1.5 years of its issuance. Applicants may request customized payment schedules when submitting their application.

Eligibility extends to various agricultural entities, including agricultural businesses, cooperatives, nonprofits, producer networks, public benefit corporations, local and state government agencies, and other specified organizations. Projects may focus on areas such as agritourism, climate action, farm infrastructure, marketing, processing, production expansion, education, and value-added production. Applicants are encouraged to identify the number of Howard County and Maryland farms impacted and provide letters of support where applicable.

The grant application requires a detailed executive summary, impact analysis, implementation plan, and outcome measures. A scoring system out of 200 points evaluates applications across categories, including executive summary (30 points), impact summary (60 points), implementation (40 points), outcomes (30 points), and overall application quality (30 points). An additional 10 discretionary points are awarded by the Agricultural Preservation Board. Applications missing required sections will receive zero points in those areas.

Projects must align with the grant's goals to expand and sustain agriculture in Howard County. The panel reviewing applications prioritizes initiatives with clear impacts on local farms, strong implementation plans, and measurable outcomes. Successful applicants will submit annual performance measures or project completion reports. The Howard County Economic Development Authority and Office of Agriculture reserve discretion in awarding funds based on the total score and alignment with program priorities.

To apply, applicants must complete the provided form, include supporting documentation, and submit their materials by the deadline. For further questions, applicants can contact the grant administrators at Aggrants@howardcountymd.gov.