Deadline: 14-May-21
TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, has announced its request for applications for the Agriculture and Rural Rebuild (ARR) Challenge, created to assist Maryland’s rural and agricultural businesses that have been detrimentally impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic downturn.
TEDCO’s Agriculture and Rural Rebuild (ARR) Challenge was created to assist Maryland’s rural and agricultural businesses that have been detrimentally impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic downturn.
The ARR challenge will specifically fund technology-empowered initiatives that will help our rural and agricultural businesses recover, rebuild and pivot from the current economic crisis.
The ARR challenge also encourages purposeful collaboration between rural businesses, research institutions and industry partners.
Examples of a successful project may include (but is not limited to), the development of an innovative product or a novel application of an existing technology to help a business pivot or recover from the current COVID crisis.
The ARR Challenge is supported by funds provided by the Maryland General Assembly and The Governor through the Recovery for the Economy, Livelihoods, Industries, Entrepreneurs, and Families (RELIEF) Act of 2021.
This Challenge grant will specifically fund technology-empowered initiatives that will help our rural and agricultural businesses recover, rebuild and pivot from the current crisis and help build future economic resilience in these communities.
Funding Information
- TEDCO will award grants up to $200,000 per project.
Eligibility Criteria
- A business is eligible for an ARR challenge award if it meets all the following criteria:
- The company must be a Maryland Qualified Business, which is a company in good standing with the MD Department of Assessments & Taxation that has its principal business operations located in Maryland with at least half (50%) of its Workforce (includes W-2 employees and founders – regardless of full-time or part-time
- status, and excludes 1099 contractors) working in the State, and the intention to maintain its operations in Maryland, as further defined in Economic Development Article §10–401(h), Annotated Code of Maryland;
- The company must:
- be headquartered in or collaborate with a business in a Rural Area of the State of Maryland as defined in State Finance Procurement Article, §2-207, Annotated Code of Maryland (this includes all counties in Maryland except for Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Prince Georges County, and Montgomery County); and
- collaborate with a Maryland research university or entrepreneurial organization or related industry partner;
- The company must have fewer than 100 members of its workforce; and
For more information, visit https://www.tedcomd.com/funding/agriculture-and-rural-rebuild-arr-challenge#applynow