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Maryland Department of Commerce

Winery and Vineyard Economic Development Grant Program (WVEDG)

About this page.  This page explains WVEDG in plain language. The program is authorized under Chapter 358 of 2022 - PDF. If anything on this page conflicts with the statute, the statute controls.

Program Status

The program is active and awards grants once per year, up to the funding appropriated for the program. If the total amount requested by all applicants exceeds the appropriation, grants are reduced on a pro-rata (proportional) basis.

Confirm the current deadline before you apply.  Commerce's page currently shows two different deadlines: the Apply section states January 16, 2026, while the FAQ describes a September 15 submission with certification by December 15 of the same year. Both dates have passed. Contact Denicia Walker to confirm the deadline for the current round.

What This Program Does

WVEDG provides financial assistance to individuals and corporations to establish a new winery or vineyard in Maryland, or to complete capital improvements at an existing one.

Commerce provides a grant equal to 25% of qualified capital expenses, as defined in Chapter 358 of 2022.

Who Can Apply

An individual or corporation may apply on behalf of a qualified Maryland winery or vineyard.

  • Qualified winery — an establishment located in Maryland and licensed by the Comptroller of Maryland as either a Class 3 or Class 4 winery, under the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article
  • Qualified vineyard — agricultural land located in Maryland consisting of at least one contiguous acre dedicated to growing grapes and other plants used in the production of wine by a Maryland-licensed winery, including any plants or other improvements

Qualified capital expenses must be made in connection with establishing a new winery or vineyard, or with capital improvements to an existing Maryland winery or vineyard.

What the Grant Can Fund

Qualified capital expenses are expenditures for the purchase and installation of equipment or agricultural materials used in the production of agricultural products at a vineyard or in a winery, including:

  • Storage and fermentation: barrels, bins, tanks, vats, wine tanks, fermenters or other recognized fermentation devices
  • Bottling and packaging: bottling equipment, capsuling equipment, corkers, labeling equipment
  • Processing: crushers, destemmers, presses, filters, refractometers
  • Field equipment: canopy management machines, fruit harvesters, mowers, seeders, tractors, forklifts
  • Irrigation and cooling: irrigation equipment, hoses, pumps, refrigeration equipment
  • Cultivation and maintenance: pruning equipment, weeding and spraying equipment, small tools
  • Growing materials: fruit plants, fertilizer and soil amendments, soil, chemicals (vineyard only)
  • Trellis and structure materials: poles, posts, lugs, wire

What is not covered

Qualified capital expenses do not include:

  • Construction or installation of buildings or structures
  • Utilities
  • Labor costs
  • Service costs
  • Repair costs
  • Maintenance costs
  • General supplies

How the Program Works

  • The grant equals 25% of qualified capital expenses
  • The total amount Commerce approves each year may not exceed the program’s appropriation
  • If total requests exceed the appropriation, grants are approved on a pro-rata basis

See the April 2025 grant recipients - PDF - 63.33 KB for an idea of typical award sizes.

Documents You Will Need to Apply

Be prepared to provide:

  • The completed WVEDG application
  • A detailed Report of Expenses listing your qualifying capital expenses
  • Supporting proof of purchase — receipts and invoices from the store or company where the purchase was made, or other supporting documentation

Keep your records.  The business must retain copies of all supporting documents for its own records, in line with standard tax recordkeeping.

How to Apply

  1. Review the Application Guidelines - PDF - 119.24 KB and complete Exhibit A - PDF - 103.48 KB.
  2. Prepare your Report of Expenses with supporting proof of purchase.
  3. Submit through the WVEDG online application.
  4. Confirm the current deadline with Commerce before submitting.

How Applications Are Reviewed

A business must be certified as a qualified business entity eligible for the grant.

Commerce reviews the application package, verifies the qualified capital expenses against the supporting documents, and certifies the amount the applicant may claim.

How You Receive Your Funds

After Commerce reviews and certifies the approved amount, it issues the grant.

If the total amount requested by all applicants exceeds the annual appropriation, your grant is adjusted on a pro-rata basis.

Grant Terms

Keep records of the expenses claimed and the supporting proof of purchase and payment, in line with standard tax recordkeeping procedures.

Business information submitted to Commerce is generally confidential, subject to the Maryland Public Information Act and Maryland Tax-General Article, Title 13, Subtitle 2. As part of applying, the company consents to the release of certain information in the grant application.

Funding Source and Required Disclosures

This grant is authorized under Chapter 358 of 2022 - PDF (Senate Bill 594).

Program resources:

Applicants should consult the authorizing statute and applicable regulations for the complete legal requirements governing this program.

Contact

Denicia Walker
Administrative Officer I
Maryland Department of Commerce
Email: [email protected] - PDF - 63.33 KB
Phone: 410-767-6313