EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator for Maryland Black Farmers

• Receive four to six weeks of training in business and brand storytelling.
• Refine their business story and presentation in a cohort with other Maryland Black farmers.
• Share their business story at an in-person event in Maryland for a chance at $72,000 in grant funding.

RFA Training Period

The Accelerator consists of an average of 4-6 hours of training a week during a four- week training period. Participants must have consistent access to the internet and a phone to complete the accelerator training. The Association reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate candidates at any time during the process if they have not completed required assignments or dedicated the time required. Finale candidates will be narrowed down based upon their eligibility and performance during the Training. Chosen candidates will be notified by October 30, 2023. The 1st place grant recipients from Maryland will present their business story at the Black Farmers Finale in February 2024.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Legal resident (i.e., must be able to show proof of legal residence) of the United States and at least eighteen (18) years of age.
• Live in and/or serve communities in Maryland
• Project is focused on reducing social, economic and/or health disparities in Maryland.
• Employees, interns, contractors, directors, officers, employees, advertising and promotion agencies, representatives, sponsors, and agents of the Association, and immediate family members (parents, siblings, children, spouses, and life partners of each, regardless of where they live) and members of the households (whether related or not) of such employees, officers, and directors are ineligible to participate in this RFA.
• Your solution must support the mission of the Association and the mission of EmPOWERED to Serve.
• Your solution must be original, and must not contain, incorporate or otherwise use, any content, material or element that is owned by a third party or entity, or violates a third party’s publicity, privacy, or intellectual property rights, except for static images used under license.
• Your solution must not be the subject of any actual or threatened litigation or claim.
• Your solution must not contain content, material or elements that displays any third-party advertising, slogan, logo, trademark or otherwise indicates a sponsorship or endorsement by a third party, commercial entity or one that is not within the spirit of this RFA.
• Your solution must not be derogatory, offensive, threatening, defamatory, disparaging, libelous or contain any content that is inappropriate, indecent, sexual, profane, tortuous, slanderous, discriminatory in any way, or that promotes hatred or harm against any group or person, or otherwise does not comply with this RFA.
• Your solution must not contain content, material or any element that is unlawful, or otherwise in violation of or contrary to all applicable federal, state, or local laws and regulation including the laws or regulations in the state where created.
• You must have consistent access to the internet and a phone to complete the Accelerator Training.
• You must have strong leadership, organization, fiscal and project management skills
• Applicants cannot be a tobacco, drug, or alcohol company or a tobacco, drug, or alcohol company subsidiary or parent. For purposes of this paragraph, the terms “subsidiary” and “parent” are defined as an entity in which there exists a five percent (5%) or greater, direct or indirect, ownership by or of a tobacco, drug, or alcohol company.
• If you are a business entity, you must be an entity in good standing with the State in which you are formed and/or residing and maintain good standing throughout the term of this RFA.

For more information, visit American Heart Association.