FREDERICK, Md. – Frederick County’s agriculture community is leading the way in creativity and diversification, thanks to the County’s Agriculture Innovation Grant Program. County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced the distribution of $126,448.22 in grant awards as part of the Spring 2024 grant cycle. Eight agricultural businesses were selected to receive funding through this competitive grant program, designed to foster innovation and diversification in farm operations.
“Farms are a major driver of Frederick County’s economy and farmers are an important part of our community,” County Executive Fitzwater said. “Our award-winning grants help to cultivate a prosperous future for our farms and farmers. The program also fulfills our community-based Transition Team’s recommendation to support a diversified agriculture economy.”
Projects selected in this cycle are expected to generate seven full-time and 19 part-time positions. The grant recipients are:
- Burall Farms, Mt. Airy – Construct and establish a farmstand to sell freezer beef by the cut, direct to the consumer.
- Flourish Flowers, Myersville – Expand urban cut-flower production and offerings.
- Good Soil Farm, Emmitsburg – Expand electrical system and hook up to a newly constructed barn for poultry processing and a Community Supported Agriculture pickup area.
- Green Valley Harvesters, Union Bridge – Establish a sterile houseplant tissue culturing lab.
- The Kombucha Lady, Rocky Ridge – Purchase a mobile Kombucha unit and Kombucha equipment.
- Pleasant Hill Produce, LLC, Walkersville – Buy aeroponic growing towers for fruits and vegetables.
- Stone Pillar Farm, Frederick – Expand a vegetable wash-and-pack processing facility.
- Three Spartans Apiary, Walkersville – Expand honey production and processing, apiary and value-added products.
In this seventh cycle of the Agriculture Innovation Grants program, 25 applications were received, collectively requesting over $650,000 in grant funding. Over the past three years, the County has awarded more than $1.5 million through the Ag Innovation Grant program to encourage innovation and to support the retention and expansion of the county’s agricultural and craft beverage industry. For every $1 of County grant funding awarded, ag businesses have invested $5.64 toward grant projects.
Grants start at $5,000 and are awarded twice a year to help agricultural enterprises expand or diversify their operations. For more information about the program, contact Becca Tucker, Senior Business Development Manager of Agriculture, at 240-739-2013.
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Contact: Becca Tucker, Senior Business Development Manager
Office of Agriculture
240-739-2013