1. A. The applicant who executes a grant agreement shall be paid in accordance with the following payment schedule:

   1. (1) Upon receipt of the approval letter, the person may request up to 50 percent of the award as outlined in the grant agreement;
   2. (2) Upon submitting a Progress Report on a Departmental form as set forth in §B(1) of this regulation, the person may request up to 40 percent of the award as outlined in the grant agreement;
   3. (3) Upon completion of the Final Progress Report on a Departmental form as set forth in §B(2) of this regulation, the remaining 10 percent of the award as outlined in the grant agreement can be requested for payment.

2. B. Reports.

   1. (1) Progress Report. The Progress Report shall contain the following at a minimum:

      1. (a) A narrative describing the work that has been completed thus far;
      2. (b) A plan for remaining work to be completed;
      3. (c) A summary of the project budget and schedule;
      4. (d) A list of action items; and
      5. (e) A narrative identifying any issues and risks, and what is being done to rectify them.

   2. (2) Final Report. The Final Report shall contain the following at a minimum:

      1. (a) A project summary narrative;
      2. (b) A summary of how the project budget was utilized;
      3. (c) Project Outputs (training events, outreach, sales of farm products and location of sales, etc.);
      4. (d) Project Impacts (number of people benefitted/trained); and
      5. (e) Any additional information requested by the Department.

3. C. The applicant shall document all eligible costs on an itemized statement. Each itemized cost shall be supported by payment receipts or unpaid invoices from vendors. Each receipt shall be signed by the person who executes a cost share agreement and certified that each cost is true and correct to the best of that person's knowledge. Each payment receipt or unpaid invoice shall show the following:

   1. (1) Vendor, or vendors names and addresses;
   2. (2) Type of material, labor, equipment, or item purchased; and
   3. (3) The unit cost for the item, the total amount per item, and any payments made to the vendor.
4. D. The applicant shall complete and submit to the Department, utilizing a departmental claim for payment form, each scheduled payment outlined in §A of this regulation.

Authority: Agriculture Article, §§2-2001 et seq.; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: April 14, 2025 (52:7 Md. R. 325)

Regulation .02B amended effective April 27, 2026 (53:8 Md. R. 356)

Regulation .04B amended effective April 27, 2026 (53:8 Md. R. 356)

Regulation .05A amended effective April 27, 2026 (53:8 Md. R. 356)

Regulation .06A amended effective April 27, 2026 (53:8 Md. R. 356)