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Winery and Vineyard Economic Development Grant Program (WVEDG)

Maryland's Winery and Vineyard Economic Development Grant Program provides financial assistance to individuals and corporations to establish a new winery or vineyard in the State or complete capital improvements at an existing winery or vineyard. Commerce will provide a grant to an individual or corporation for 25% of “qualified capital expenses” (as defined in Ch. 358 of 2022). 

BENEFITS

A Maryland Winery/Vineyard may be qualified for a grant equal to 25% of qualified capital expenses.

ELIGIBILITY

A qualified winery is defined as an establishment licensed by the Comptroller of Maryland as either a Class 3 or a Class 4 winery pursuant to Article 2B, §§ 2-204 and 2-205, Annotated Code of Maryland.

A qualified vineyard is defined as agricultural lands located in Maryland consisting of at least one contiguous acre used solely to grow grapes and other plants that will be used in the production of wine by a winery licensed by the Comptroller of Maryland.

Qualified capital expenses must be made in connection with the establishment of new wineries or vineyards, or capital improvements made to existing wineries or vineyards in Maryland.

"Qualified capital expenses" include expenditures made by the taxpayer for the purchase and installation of equipment or agricultural materials for use in the production of agricultural products at a vineyard or in a winery. Qualified capital expenses do not include the cost of construction or installation of buildings or structures. Specifically, qualified capital expenses include:

  • Barrels
  • Bins
  • Bottling equipment
  • Canopy management machines
  • Capsuling equipment
  • Chemicals (vineyard only)
  • Corkers
  • Crushers
  • Destemmers
  • Fermenters or other recognized fermentation devices
  • Fertilizer and soil amendments
  • Filters
  • Forklifts
  • Fruit harvesters
  • Fruit plants
  • Hoses
  • Irrigation equipment
  • Labeling equipment
  • Lugs
  • Mowers
  • Poles
  • Posts
  • Presses
  • Pruning equipment
  • Pumps
  • Refractometers
  • Refrigeration equipment
  • Seeders
  • Soil
  • Small tools
  • Tanks
  • Tractors
  • Vats
  • Weeding and spraying equipment
  • Wine tanks
  • Wire

APPLY

For a winery or a vineyard to receive a grant, an individual or corporation on behalf of the winery or vineyard must apply to and be certified by the Maryland Department of Commerce (Commerce). The winery or vineyard must submit an application to Commerce by January 15, 2025.

The total Winery and Vineyard Economic Development Grant Program approved by Commerce may not exceed the appropriation for any calendar year. If the total amount of funding applied for by all businesses exceeds the appropriation, funds will be approved on a pro-rata basis. 

WVEDG Application Materials

RESOURCES



CONTACT

For more information about WVEDG contact:

Liz Fitzsimmons, Managing Director
Maryland Department of Commerce, Office of Tourism
elizabeth.fitzsimmons@maryland.gov
(410) 767-6331

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • What is the Winery and Vineyard Economic Development Grant Program?

    • Maryland's  Winery and Vineyard Economic Development Grant Program provides financial assistance to individuals and corporations to establish a new winery or vineyard in the State or complete capital improvements at an existing winery or vineyard.  Commerce will provide a grant to an individual or corporation for 25% of “qualified capital expenses” (as defined in Ch. 358 of 2022). 

  • Who may apply for the Maryland Wineries and Vineyards Grant?

    • A qualified Maryland winery or Maryland vineyard that has qualified capital expenses may apply for this grant.

      A Qualified Maryland Winery is defined as an establishment located in Maryland and is licensed by the Comptroller of Maryland as either a Class 3 or Class 4 winery.

      A Qualified Maryland Vineyard is defined as agricultural lands located in Maryland consisting of at least 1 contiguous acre dedicated to the growing of grapes used in the production of wine by a winery as well as any plants or other improvements.

  • What are the qualified capital expenses?

    • ​The "Qualified Capital Expenses" are all expenditures made by the business for the purchase and installation of equipment or agricultural materials for use in the production of agricultural products at a vineyard or in a winery. Qualified capital expenses include:

      • Barrels
      • Bins
      • Bottling equipment,
      • Canopy management machines
      • Capsuling equipment
      • Chemicals
      • Corkers
      • Crushers
      • Destemmers
      • Fermenters or other recognized fermentation devices
      • Fertilizer and soil amendments
      • Filters
      • Fruit harvesters
      • Fruit plants
      • Hoses
      • Irrigation equipment
      • Labeling equipment
      		​
      • Lugs
      • Mowers
      • Poles
      • Posts
      • Presses
      • Pruning equipment
      • Pumps
      • Refractometers
      • Refrigeration equipment
      • Seeders
      • Soil
      • Small tools
      • Tanks
      • Tractors
      • Vats
      • Weeding and spraying equipment
      • Wine tanks
      • Wire

  • What are NOT included in the qualified capital expenses?

    • ​Utilities, labor costs, service costs, repair costs, maintenance costs, construction costs, and general supplies are NOT qualified expenses.

  • How much funding may a business receive?

    • Commerce will provide a grant to an individual or corporation for 25% of “qualified capital expenses” (as defined in Ch. 358 of 2022). The amount of grants annually approved by Commerce may not exceed the total appropriation for the program for that fiscal year.

  • How can a business prove eligible wineries and vineyards capital expenses?

    • A business must complete the "Report of Expenses" with supporting documents as an attachment to the application.

      The business entity must retain a copy of any supporting documents of these costs for its records. Those supporting documents include proof of equipment and/or materials purchases, such as receipts and invoices from the store and/or company where the purchase was made or other supporting documentation.

  • How does a business know if it is eligible for the grant?

    • ​Business Certification Requirement: A business must be certified as a qualified business entity that is eligible for the grant. Applications for certification are available from the Maryland Department of Commerce website. The business must submit an application and report of expenses along with the supporting documents to Commerce by September 15th of the calendar year in which the expenses were incurred. Commerce ​will review the application package and will certify to the taxpayer the amount that the taxpayer may claim by December 15th of the same year.

      Detailed "Report of Expenses" Requirement: A business must provide a detailed report of expenses of the qualifying wineries and vineyards capital expenses in Maryland with supporting documents of the proof of purchase.

  • How does a business apply for the Wineries and Vineyards Grant?

    • A business may apply using the application on the Maryland Department of Commerce’s website. 

  • What records must a business maintain?

    • ​The business, in accordance with standard tax record procedures, must maintain information on the expenses claimed for the grant as well as supporting documents for the proof of purchases and payments.

  • Is business information submitted to the Department confidential?

    • ​Generally yes, subject to the provisions of the Maryland Public Information Act and the Maryland Code, Tax-General Article, Title 13, Subtitle 2. In addition, the company consents to the release of certain information in the grant application.