Welcome

The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is excited to announce AOI 2: Capital Expenditures 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 their capital expenditure investments associated with implementing actions items from their Market Entry Report.

Proposed projects must hold the potential to provide a benefit to Maryland’s offshore wind supply chain and workforce, and have direct benefits to surrounding communities. Offshore wind is a growing clean-energy industry in Maryland, and proposed projects should assist new or existing businesses to enter the state’s offshore wind supply chain. Proposed projects must provide goods and services to the offshore wind industry in Maryland, while also intending to serve the larger US offshore wind market and related industries.

MEA will consider applications from new or existing 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. 

NOTE: Non-emerging businesses are ineligible for funding under this program.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until February 1, 2024 or until the program has exhausted available program funding for Fiscal Year 2024. 

Anticipated Funding

A total budget of $1,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2024 is anticipated to be available for AOI 2: Capital Investments 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 award up to 50 percent of the total project costs not to exceed $400,000. Applicants must contribute at least 50 percent of the total project costs as matching funds.  Matching funds may include, but are not limited to, finance/loan agreement, cash on hand, a business line of credit, and other grant awards (state, federal, or private).

Eligible Applicants

Organizations eligible to apply under the Maryland Offshore 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

Funding under AOI 2: Capital Expenditures are provided to awardees to offset the costs of capital investments for Maryland companies entering the offshore wind supply chain. Proposed projects must hold the potential to benefit the state and local communities through job opportunities and commitments to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity in their business operations. Proposed projects should also be designed to serve the larger U.S. offshore wind market and related industries. 

Grant funds may be used to offset capital expenditures such as:   

• Business expansion including relocation costs, new construction of real property, and renovations to existing real property; and,   
• Purchase and installation of new or manufacturer certified or third party licensed refurbished equipment at new or existing real property.   
  
  

Grant funds may not be used to offset operating expenditures or capital expenditures such as:   

• Purchase of new or existing real property; however, the 50 percent of the total project costs provided by the Applicant as matching funds may be used for this purpose; and,  
• Relocation costs for the Applicant’s employees or personnel including, but not limited to, housing, travel, moving, storage, and groceries/dining.  

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 FY24 grant agreements issued by MEA.

In addition to the general provisions, MEA may at its sole discretion  obligate some, all, or none of the FY24 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