Welcome

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is excited to announce AOI 1: Market Entry Report and Planning of the Maryland Offshore Wind Supply Chain Investment Program (the Program) for Fiscal Year 2024. The Program provides grant funding on a non-competitive basis to support new or existing businesses entering the offshore wind supply chain in Maryland by offsetting consultant costs associated with developing an offshore wind industry Market Entry Report.

Offshore wind is a growing clean-energy industry in Maryland, and proposals should come from emerging businesses seeking to enter the state’s offshore wind supply chain. MEA will consider applications from new or existing emerging businesses, including minority owned emerging businesses, seeking to enter the offshore wind industry. MEA will also consider applications from businesses willing to relocate or expand into Maryland contingent upon receiving a grant award. 

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until February 1, 2024 at 5:00 PM Eastern or until the program has exhausted available program funding for FY 2024. 

Anticipated Funding

A total budget of $250,000 for Fiscal Year 2024 is anticipated to be available for AOI 1: Market Entry Report and Planning of the Program. The amount awarded may vary depending on the quantity and quality of applications received and MEA’s available resources within the fiscal year. MEA will provide funding up to $25,000 in the form of a one time grant award for applicants to retain technical assistance from a third party consultant for the purpose of conducting a Market Entry Report for the Applicant to engage in state, regional, and national  offshore wind industry. All funding will come in the form of a one time grant award.

Eligible Applicants

Organizations eligible to apply under the Maryland Offshore Wind Supply Chain Investment Program must fit within the definition of an “Emerging Business.” For purposes of this program, an “Emerging Business” is defined, pursuant to Md. Code Ann., State Gov't § 9-20C-01(e), as “a business that is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by an individual or individuals who are certified to have a personal net worth, as defined in §14-301 of the State Finance and Procurement Article, that does not exceed $6,500,000 as adjusted each year for inflation according to the Consumer Price Index.” 

Applicants that do not meet the Emerging Business definition are not eligible to receive grant funding from the Program. 

Eligible Activities

Grant funds under AOI 1: Market Entry Report and Planning are provided to awardees to offset the costs of retaining technical assistance from a third party consultant to develop a Market Entry Report for the business to enter the offshore wind supply chain.

Note: Funding Awards will be in the form of a one time grant award. Applicants may apply before begining their market entry report to secure their position in our application process, however, no awards will be paid until after the market entry report has been completed their program. 

Questions Can be Directed to: 

Interested applicants may submit questions, comments, concerns, and suggestions to the following MEA Program Manager:

Emma Stoney

wind.mea@maryland.gov

410-382-1605

Confidential and Personal Information  

In accordance with Section 4-501(c)(3) of the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, MEA is required to advise Applicants of the following:

1. Any personal information requested in the Application is necessary to evaluate the eligibility of the Applicant for a Grant.
2. Failure to provide all required information will prevent MEA from processing the Application.
3. Some of this information may be provided to other agencies of the State to process the payment of Grant Funds if the Applicant is awarded a Grant.
4. The Applicant’s name, project information, and Grant award may be publicly accessible on our website if the Applicant is awarded a Grant.
5. As set forth in Section 4-502 of the General Provisions Article, an applicant has the right to inspect, amend, or correct a personal record as maintained by the Program.

All information submitted in a Grant Application is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act (PIA). If the Applicant believes information in the Application is confidential and therefore should be exempt from disclosure under the PIA, the Applicant shall clearly mark this information and identify it by page and section or line number. Upon request for information from a third party, MEA is required to make an independent determination whether the information must be disclosed under the PIA. Designating information as confidential does not guarantee that it will be exempt from disclosure.

Grant Program General Provisions

MEA grant programs are covered by general provisions that apply to all energy programs, the most current version of these General Provisions is v.3, February 2022.  The latest approved version of this document will be incorporated into all FY23 grant agreements issued by MEA.

In addition to the general provisions, MEA may at its sole discretion  obligate some, all, or none of the FY23 Program budget, based on the quality and eligibility of applications submitted to MEA. 

Program - Specific Requirements

In addition to the general provisions, the following funding qualification applies to this program:

1. Applicants that are an Emerging Business or a Non-Profit must demonstrate they are registered and in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) by submitting a Certificate of Status. Certificates of Status may be ordered online from SDAT.
2. To receive grant funding for a project, the successful applicant must enter into a Grant Agreement with MEA by May  30, 2024, unless an extension is given in writing (email) by MEA.
3. A grant award will not be made for any work completed before the effective date of the Grant Agreement with MEA.

Program Changes

Any update (e.g, extension of a deadline) or clarification about the Program and any corrections to inadvertent errors in the Program information will be available on the Program webpage. In addition, MEA will communicate clarifications and updates made after the application deadline directly to applicants or grantees, as applicable, by letter and/or e-mail. The final grant amount for each Grantee will be made after review of all proposals received and is subject to funding availability for the Program and any relevant statutory requirement applicable at that time