Frederick County’s Ag Innovation Grant is a powerful opportunity for local agricultural entrepreneurs to bring bold ideas to life. With a competitive pool and a total of $125,000 in funding available, standing out requires preparation, clarity, and strategy. Whether you’re launching a new product line, expanding infrastructure, or investing in a sustainable future, here’s how to put your best foot forward.
Steps to Apply:
- Determine & Define Your Project Clearly
Start by identifying the specific project for which you are requesting funds. Detail the project costs, the amount of funding you need, and other financial sources, such as personal investments or loans. Remember, the Ag Innovation Grant is highly competitive with a total of $125,000 to be awarded among multiple applicants. Although there is no maximum request limit, it’s wise to keep your request within the $5,000-$25,000 range.
- Develop a Strong Business Plan:
UMN Ag Plan is a great resource! SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) should guide your entire plan. The business plan is the heart of the application and should strongly highlight the project’s innovation and the economic impact it will have on your business and the local community. It should include:
- Executive Summary: A concise overview of your business plan. Tip: Complete this section last to summarize the entire plan effectively.
- Business Overview: Provide specific details about your business, including its location, products/services, and a brief history to help reviewers understand your growth journey.
- Mission Statement
- Plan Summary: Outline your grant project, the innovation and your future vision. Provide a brief overview of the business plan.
- Call to Action: Clearly state why you are requesting funding.
- Operations Plan: Detail how your business operates daily and any changes from the grant project.
- Staffing: Current team and their responsibilities. Detail any new positions the project will create.
- Production Processes: Outline products and what is involved in producing your product, including materials, logistics, quality control, etc.
- Risk Management: Describe potential risks and how you manage them, including contingency plans if the project fails.
- Marketing Plan: Identify your audience and marketing strategies.
- Target Market: Personify a typical customer.
- Strategy: Explain your marketing strategies i.e. social media, website, advertising, etc and costs associated. Provide analytics to track the progress of the marketing strategy.
- Industry Insights & Competitor Analysis: Explain and showcase what sets you apart from similar businesses.
- Financial Plan: Provide a detailedfinancial analysis of the grant project.
- Cost analysis: Detailed listing of grant requests. Include quotes, links, or images with pricing.
- Income projections: Year 1, 3, 5—backed by data.
- Cash flow and Return on Investment timeline
- Economic Impact
- Prioritization: Rank project components in case of partial funding.
- Verify Zoning Requirements: This step is REQUIRED to maintain eligibility
Email Tolson DeSa and copy FCAG@FrederickCountyMD.gov with:
- Project details
- Property address
- Existing or proposed structures
- Whether the public will access the structure
-
Check Land Preservation Easements
If your property is under a land preservation easement, contact Shannon O’Neil to confirm your project is an allowed use.
- Address Waste Discharge
If your project involves waste discharge, contact the Frederick County Health Department before applying to understand the requirements.
- Complete and Submit the Online Application. Be sure to attach your private and confidential business plan, project quotes and any other supporting documentation necessary to your application.
Frederick County’s Ag Innovation Grant is more than just funding- it’s a chance to grow your agricultural business and contribute to Frederick County’s thriving ag economy. By following these best practices, you’ll not only strengthen your application but also set your project up for long-term success. More resources can be found at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/AgGrant. If you have additional questions, please contact Becca Tucker for assistance. Good luck!