Over $350,000 has been distributed since the Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB),a program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture, launched the program in 2002 – and now it is time for another round of funding!
MHIB will begin accepting grant applications on Aug. 2 for research, educational and promotional projects that support horses or the equestrian community, or develop new opportunities for the Maryland horse industry. Application deadline is Oct. 2.
Among the organizations eligible for MHIB grants are non-profit organizations, clubs and associations, businesses, farms and stables, government entities, schools and educational institutions. Projects of interest to the Board include (but are not limited to) those that develop new opportunities for the Maryland horse industry.
Projects will be evaluated for their value to the industry, degree of industry promotion, size and scope of activity, financial need, potential for matching funds, benefits and quality of the written presentation. Grant requests should not exceed $3,000. The average grant amount is about $1,200. In 2015, 28 projects received $30,000 in grant allocations.
Grant recipients will be announced no later than January 1, 2016. Funding will be available after that date. Projects should be completed by June 30, 2016.
Funding for these grants and for MHIB is provided by the Maryland Feed Fund, which collects $6 on every ton of horse feed sold in Maryland. Since the feed fund was established in 2002, MHIB has awarded nearly $350,000 in grants to more than 275 projects throughout Maryland.
MHIB was established in 1998 to promote and develop the equine industry in Maryland. For grant guidelines, grant applications or more information on MHIB or the Feed Fund, please visit here or contact MHIB Executive Director Ross Peddicordat 410-841-5798 or email ross.peddicord@maryland.gov.
