FREDERICK, Md. – Frederick County continues to support agricultural innovation and economic growth through its Agriculture Innovation Grant Program. The Office of Agriculture has announced $125,000 in grant awards as part of the Fall 2024 cycle. Six agricultural businesses received funding for projects to help them expand, diversify, and enhance their operations.
“These grants play a vital role in fostering innovation and ensuring the long-term success of our agricultural community,” said Katie Stevens, Director of the Office of Agriculture “By investing in these businesses, we’re strengthening Frederick County’s economy and preserving our agricultural heritage.”
Fall 2024 Grant Recipients:
The projects selected in this cycle are expected to create eight full-time and 15 part-time positions across Frederick County’s agricultural sector:
- Calico Ag Services (Frederick) – To purchase a drone for cover crop seeding to expand ag services business for the community.
- Eastern Paradise Farm (Middletown) – To expand infrastructure to a food forest garden and upgrade e-commerce capabilities.
- Good Soil Farm (Emmitsburg) – To upgrade and expand infrastructure for a vegetable wash station.
- Kemptown Honey (Monrovia) – To purchase bottling equipment and expand marketing for a value-added honey mocktail/cocktail mixer.
- Moo Cow Creamery (Middletown) – To purchase and install a walk-in freezer, enhancing production capacity.
- Tenth Ward Distilling Company (Frederick) – To upgrade equipment for whiskey production expansion.
Since its launch in 2021, the Agriculture Innovation Grant Program has awarded over $1.6 million to local businesses, leveraging $5.64 in private investment for every $1 in county funding. In this cycle alone, the program received 21 applications requesting over $850,000, demonstrating strong demand for investment in Frederick County’s agricultural and craft beverage industries.
The County awards grants starting at $5,000 twice a year to help agricultural businesses expand and diversify their operations.
For more information about the Agriculture Innovation Grant Program, visit www.frederickcountymd.gov/agriculture or contact Becca Tucker at 240-739-2013.