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Offshore Wind Business Development Grant Program - FY 2019

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The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is excited to announce the Fiscal Year 2019 Offshore Wind Business Development Grant Program. The Program supports Maryland’s emerging businesses, including minority owned emerging businesses looking to participate in the global offshore wind industry. MEA seeks to jumpstart Maryland’s offshore wind supply chain by providing grant funding to help offset upfront barrier costs in two key areas: market entry assistance and capital expenditures & facilities upgrades. Please read the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for additional information before starting your application.

The Offshore Wind Business Development Grant Program utilizes an online application. Click the link below to beging your application.

Click Here to Apply

Application Deadline: August 1, 2018 at 11:59 PM EST
 

Program Overview

 

The Maryland Energy Administrations (MEA) Offshore Wind Business Development Grant Program (Fiscal Year 2019) will provide grant funding on a competitive basis to help defray barrier entry costs of Maryland’s emerging businesses; including minority owned emerging businesses entering the global offshore wind industry. The Program has a budget of $1.2 million for Fiscal Year 2019. MEA will initially reserve $200,000 of total grant funding for AOI 1 and $1 million of total grant funding for AOI 2. MEA reserves the right to redistribute reserved grant funding between the AOIs as needed. Please read the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for additional information before starting your application.

MEA will consider applications in the two following Areas of Interest (AOI):

AOI 1: Market Entry Assistance

  1. Grant awards are calculated as 100 percent of specified administrative expenses, not to exceed $25,000 per applicant. Note: MEA grants reimburse awardees for work completed and costs incurred within the grant period.
  2. Grant funds can be used to help defray costs that are required for bidding on specific, identified business opportunities in the global offshore wind supply chain. Grant funds may be used for business expenses in areas including but not limited to, administration, legal, marketing, engineering, and design, translation services.
  3. In certain cases where travel is shown to be necessary (such as for conclusive bid negotiations), a portion of those costs may be considered and included as part of the grant award. Up to 25 percent of the total grant award may be used for travel costs. MEA will not consider travel costs for “exploratory” business dealings and discussions.
  4. Applicants who are awarded a grant through AOI 1 may apply for an additional grant for AOI 2 in a subsequent fiscal year.

AOI 2: Capital Expenditures and Facilities Upgrades

  1. AOI 2 Grants are calculated as 50 percent of total project costs up to $400,000, whichever is the lower amount. Note: MEA grants reimburse awardees for work completed and costs incurred within the grant period.
  2. Grant funds may be used to offset capital expenditure costs such as upgrading physical assets such as real property, buildings, and equipment necessary for providing goods and services to the offshore wind industry through previously secured contracts or conditional purchase orders.
  3. Grant funds may not be used for the purchase of real property; however, Grantees' 50 percent cost share may be used for this purpose.
  4. If a project includes the construction or renovation of a facility, the applicant will be required for ensure the facility meets current energy codes required by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) within the State of Maryland.
  5. If a project includes procuring new equipment, applicants will be required to make reasonable efforts to ensure the equipment is cost effective and energy efficient.
  6. Applicants who were awarded a grant through AOI 1 in a previous fiscal year may apply for AOI 2.

Timeline

 

​The following timeline applies to the Offshore Wind Business Development Grant Program:

May 2018: Fiscal Year 2019 program announcement expected 

August 1, 2018: The deadline to submit applications is 11:59 pm EST

September 2018: Competitve Applicants deemed eligible for further consideration may be invited for in-person presentations

December 2018: Target for grant award announcements

February 2019: Target date for having grant agreements signed (projects begin)​

Application

 

The Offshore Wind Business Development Grant Program utilizes an online application. Please review the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) document for a complete overview of the program including eligibility, application requirements, and general terms & conditions before submitting an application.

Click the link below to begin your application.

Click Here to Apply

Application Deadline: August 1, 2018 at 11:59 PM EST
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Program Documents

Reporting and Invoicing for Existing Grantees

Resources

 

MEA has compiled a number of useful resources that will help you understand the basics of wind energy, deployment of small & community scale wind projects, Maryland’s offshore wind developments, and how you can plan a career in the wind energy industry.

Land Based Wind

Offshore Wind

Wind Energy Resources

Related Incentives

Contact

For questions, suggestions, or more information, please contact Samuel Beirne via email at wind.mea@maryland.gov or phone at (410) 537-4090.