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State approves money to promote wineries

Friday, Sept. 22, 2006

Maryland’s wineries got a boost this week when the Board of Public Works approved two grants totaling $98,000 to help the Maryland Grape Growers Association and Maryland Wineries Association promote the state’s growing industry.

The grants are the first awards from the Maryland Wine and Grape Promotion Fund, established in 2005, to promote the production and consumption of Maryland wine and the production of grapes in the state.

The money will be used for marketing, research, advertising, retail and festival promotions, activities that promote growing grapes, and educational seminars.

The fund is an offshoot of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Maryland Wine and Grape Growing and the Maryland Wine and Grape Promotion Council, established last year. The commission comprises seven members appointed by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) from the industry, research community and state government, plus two members appointed by the Senate president and House speaker. The council comprises the secretaries of the Maryland Departments of Agriculture, Budget and Management, and Business and Economic Development.

Together, they recommend to the Board of Public Works how to spend allocated funds.

This year, $100,000 was available, with $150,000 available in fiscal 2007.