In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Farm product” means: Any agricultural, horticultural, vegetable, or fruit product of the soil, whether raw, canned, frozen, dried, pickled, or otherwise processed; Livestock, meats, marine food products, poultry, eggs, or dairy products; Wool, hides, feathers, nuts, or honey; and Every product of farm, forest, orchard, garden, or water. “Fund” means the Urban Agriculture Grant Fund. “Program” means the Urban Agriculture Grant Program. “Qualified applicant” means an agricultural producer, a nonprofit organization, or an institution of higher education that meets the qualifications established in § 2–2004 of this subtitle. “Urban agricultural producer” means any person that annually sells, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of farm products in an urban area. “Urban area” means an area of the State that is: Delineated as an urban area by the U.S. Census Bureau; or Within the boundaries of a municipal corporation.

There is an Urban Agriculture Grant Program in the Department. The purpose of the Program is to increase the viability of urban farming and improve access to urban–grown foods.

There is an Urban Agriculture Grant Fund. The purpose of the Fund is to provide grants to qualified applicants to implement the Program. The Secretary shall administer the Fund. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The Fund consists of: Money appropriated to the Fund under subsection (g) of this section; and Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund. In accordance with this subsection, the Fund shall be used to provide grants to qualified applicants. For each of fiscal years 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least $100,000 to the Fund. There is an Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee to recommend guidelines, policies, and practices for the implementation of the Urban Agriculture Grant Program. The Committee consists of the following members: Five members, appointed by the Secretary, with expertise in urban agriculture or working with socially disadvantaged farmers who reside in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Montgomery County, or Prince George’s County; Two members, appointed by the Secretary, with expertise in providing education and training to urban farmers through a nonprofit organization or an institution of higher education; One member appointed by the Maryland Agricultural and Resource–Based Industry Development Corporation; One member appointed by the Maryland State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); and One member appointed by the Department of Planning for the City of Baltimore. The Secretary shall designate the chair of the Committee. The Department shall provide staff for the Committee. A member of the Committee: May not receive compensation as a member of the Committee; but Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. The Committee shall make recommendations that: Establish a competitive grant application process that prioritizes applications that benefit socially disadvantaged urban farmers to: Secure real property: That has established the necessary infrastructure to grow food; For which the grantee is the steward of the real property; and For which not more than 20% of the grant money will be used to secure property; Maintain safe, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible practices; and Make capital improvements to support viable urban agriculture enterprises; Require that grant applications demonstrate a measurable community benefit, which may include improving local food access; and Prohibit grant recipients from using more than 15% of the amount of the grant for operating expenses. On or before December 30, 2023, and each December 30 thereafter, the Urban Agriculture Advisory Committee shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and the House Appropriations Committee.

A nonprofit organization or an institution of higher education is qualified to receive a grant in accordance with this subtitle if the Department determines: With respect to a nonprofit organization, that the nonprofit organization is incorporated or maintains its principal place of business in an urban area; That the entity works to increase the viability of urban farming and improve access to urban–grown foods; and That the entity will provide direct training and ongoing technical assistance, in accordance with a program that is certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Department, to urban agricultural producers that receive a grant under this subtitle. An urban agricultural producer is qualified to receive a grant in accordance with this subtitle if the Department determines that the urban agricultural producer will complete a new farming training or continuing education program. Within 90 days after the end of a grant cycle, a qualified nonprofit organization that received a grant in accordance with this subtitle shall submit a report to the Department that includes the following information: The names and locations of urban agricultural producers that received funds under the Program; The dollar amount of funds awarded to each urban agricultural producer; and The impact of the Program on increasing the viability of urban farming and improving access to urban–grown foods.

Except as provided in § 2–2003(h) of this subtitle, the Department may adopt regulations to implement this subtitle.