Small nonprofit organizations affected by the pandemic can apply for one-time grants that Frederick County is offering. County Executive Jan Gardner announced that $1 million of the County’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation has been set aside for the grants. The ARPA Nonprofit Community Health and Recovery, or ANCHR, grants are designed to help organizations that have not been eligible for previous recovery programs. Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $50,000, based on the nonprofit’s annual budget.

"Our nonprofit community works every day to make life better for people in Frederick County," Executive Gardner said. "With these grants, we are providing small nonprofits an anchor to help them weather the storm created by the pandemic."

Grant funds may be used recover from revenue gaps or increased expenses, such as a drop in donations or a higher demand for service, or to help cover payroll, rent or other operating costs. Grants also can be used to expand or create community programs to address needs created by COVID-19.

All 501(c)(3) and 501 (c)(19) nonprofits registered in Frederick County will be sent information on how to apply. To be eligible for a grant, the organization must have been in existence since March 2019; their annual operating budget must not exceed $500,000; at least 51% of the people they serve must live in Frederick County; and the organization must have a physical location or address in the county. Details are available at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/ANCHR.

Executive Gardner also announced that $300,000 of the County’s ARPA funds will be awarded to the nonprofit Good Works Frederick to support a volunteer-based ride-share program. Extensive public outreach identified a need for accessible transportation options in the community. Good Works Frederick will partner with the United Way of Frederick County to expand the Ride United program so more people can benefit from the service.

To find details about other ARPA-funded initiatives in Frederick County, visit www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/ARPA. To watch the County Executive’s public information briefing, go to www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/FCGtv.

Plans for Agriculture Innovation Center

To support Frederick County’s longstanding agriculture industry a team of experts with national experience and local knowledge have been contracted to determine the demand for a center, which could allow farmers to create value-added products without investing in costly equipment. Based on their findings, the experts will recommend possible locations and a detailed business plan.

"We must ensure that agriculture remains economically viable for years to come," Executive Gardner said. "Preserving our best farmland is only part of the answer. An agriculture innovation center could be a real game-changer. Leaving a legacy of agriculture may be one of the most important things my administration does to protect and preserve what we love about Frederick County."

There will be three phases to the feasibility study, beginning with a consumer survey and a series of industry focus groups within Frederick County’s agriculture community. The second phase will be to analyze the findings and create a broad business plan. In the final phase, the experts will submit a report recommending the type of center that would create the greatest economic impact for Frederick County, as well as a list of potential sites and a detailed business plan to support the center.

The feasibility study will be conducted in partnership with HR&A Advisors, ACDS LLC, and Epstein and Sons International. HR&A is a nationally known economic development and real estate consulting firm, with offices in Washington, D.C. Their senior advisor for this project has worked on strategic plans for many food procession facilities, markets and agricultural business parks, including Pike Place in Seattle, Washington, Agricenter International in Memphis, Tennessee, and the Hunts Point Cooperative Market in the Bronx, New York. Friendship, Maryland-based ACDS conducts rural economic development efforts nationally and internationally. The company has extensive experience in the Mid-Atlantic region. Epstein, based in Chicago, will lead the site selection process. The company is an engineering, architecture and construction company that specializes in the food industry. Epstein works across the United States and abroad, including on Cloverdale Farms’ processing facility expansion in North Dakota.

Questions about the value-added food processing center project can be directed to Katie Stevens, Associate Director of Agriculture Business Development in the Frederick County Office of Economic Development, by calling 301-600-3037 or emailing KStevens1@FrederickCountyMD.gov.

Grant Will Help Businesses Save Money Through Energy-Saving Improvements

New grants are available for businesses to make energy efficient retrofits and save money. Frederick County is offering supplemental grants, up to $5,000 for LED lighting upgrades and up to $10,000 for deeper retrofits to HVAC and commercial refrigeration systems. These funds will cover the customer co-pay for incentives offered by Potomac Edison. By combining funds, businesses may make improvements at no cost as long as funding is available.

There are two eligible Potomac Edison Programs. First, the Small Business Direct Install provides a turnkey solution, choosing the best products for an upgrade, managing the installation process and providing enhanced warranty support. Potomac Edison provides incentives covering up to 80% of installed energy saving measure costs.

Second, Building Tune-up (BT) offers incentives to offset the upfront costs for energy efficiency improvements in existing commercial buildings through HVAC, refrigeration, lighting, and food service measures. These incentives support more comprehensive improvements.

The programs are available for most non-residential facility types including commercial, institutional, and industrial customers. To qualify, participating projects must be in Potomac Edison’s Maryland service territory.

Willdan Energy Solutions is implementing the Potomac Edison programs in partnership with Frederick County. For more information, contact Willdan: energysavemd@willdan.com