FREDERICK, Md. – Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner unveiled two new initiatives today that are designed to preserve the County’s rich history and to keep agriculture a viable and profitable industry for future generations. Both are competitive grant programs that support goals of the award-winning Livable Frederick master plan. The Rural Historic Preservation Grant Program will provide funds to restore or rehabilitate historically significant houses, barns and sites in rural areas of Frederick County. The Agricultural Innovation Grant Program will help farmers diversify their operations to stay profitable.
“The goal of these grants is to leave a legacy for future generations of a vibrant agricultural community and to preserve our rich history,” Executive Gardner said. “As we preserve farmland through our ag preservation programs, it is equally important that we help keep agricultural operations profitable. These grants accomplish that goal. Frederick County has done an outstanding job preserving our rich history in our urban core. The Rural Preservation Grants will help us preserve our history in our rural areas, including historic bank barns, homes and other structures.”
The Rural Historic Preservation Grant Program will offer grants of up to $50,000 to individual property owners and nonprofit organizations to stabilize, rehabilitate, restore or preserve the exterior of a historic property. To qualify, properties must be listed on the County Register of Historic Places or on the National Register of Historic Places, or be designated as a contributing resource in a historic district. A property also qualifies if the Maryland Historical Trust determines the site is eligible for National Register designation. Applications will be accepted once a year. Details are available online at FrederickCountyMD.gov/Executive.
The Agricultural Innovation Grant Program will award grants of $5,000 or more to help farmers expand or diversify their business operations to remain profitable and viable. Funds may be used for research and development, production buildings, major fixtures, or processing facilities. Applications will be accepted twice a year, in January and July. To be eligible, applicants must be a crop or livestock producer, a value-added producer, an agricultural cooperative, a seafood processor, or a primary or secondary timber products processor. Information on the program is available online at FrederickCountyMD.gov/Executive.
Review committees will be established for both programs to score applications based on established metrics and then recommend awards to the County Executive. Funding for the grants will come from dedicated revenue from the county’s recordation fee, which is charged on certain real estate transactions.
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