Empowered to Serve Business Accelerator™: Maryland Black Farmers

Meet the Finalists
a Black man and woman wearing aprons are standing in front of their produce stand at a farmers market

Many Black entrepreneurs and farmers center social justice in what they do. The EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator - Maryland Black Farmers is an effort to identify and support Black farmers in Maryland to create business solutions to social and economic challenges impacting the communities we serve and increase access to healthy foods. As a result, they have the potential to change behaviors, expand access to resources and improve the long-term health of all people in Maryland.

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The business accelerator was featured on WJZ CBS News Baltimore! Watch the segment ยป

Congratulations to this year’s grant recipients and finalists

Five candidates competed for up to $72,000 in grant funding. Learn more about the candidates

headshot of Ali Simeto outdoors against a wall with white siding

1st Place
$35,000 grant
Ali Simeto
Geb-Ra Organics
headshot of Crystal Levine in a doorway

2nd Place
$25,000 grant
Crystal Levine
CodaBax
headshot of Ashley Drakeford wearing a Capital Market t-shirt against a white background

3rd Place
$10,000 grant
Ashley Drakeford
The Capital Market
headshot of Doug Adams in front of a vine with fall-colored leaves

Finalist
$1,000 grant
Doug Adams
New Brooklyn Farms
headshot of Richard Francis in an indoor setting

Finalist
$1,000 grant
Richard Francis
Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm

“In the process of reworking my low-fidelity prototype, the Business Accelerator helped me realize CodaBax's greater potential. There has been more than one wow moment as I worked through it. I cannot wait to see what our impact will be three and five years from now.”

— Crystal Levine, Empowered to Serve Maryland Black Farmers candidate

Finale Judges

This impressive panel of executives served as judges during the finale on February 7.

headshot of Dekonti Mends-Cole

Dekonti Mends-Cole
Head of DE&I for Corporate Responsibility, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

headshot of Janet S. Currie

Janet S. Currie
President, Bank of America Greater Maryland

headshot of Larry L. Johnson

Larry L. Johnson
Chairman, AHA Baltimore & Greater Maryland Division Board of Directors

Finale Showcase

Scroll to browse photos from the Maryland Black Farmers Business Accelerator Finale Showcase.

  • Ali Simento, along with a group of judges and representatives, is holding a big check from the American Heart Association showing his 1st place win at the ETS Maryland Black Farmers Business Accelerator finale.

  • Crystal Levine is holding a big check from the American Heart Association showing her 2nd place win at the ETS Maryland Black Farmers Business Accelerator finale.

  • Ashley Drakeford is holding a big check from the American Heart Association showing her 3rd place win at the ETS Maryland Black Farmers Business Accelerator finale.

  • Doug Adams with New Brooklyn Farms is speaking in front of a digital display.

  • A representative from Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm is speaking with a guest at their booth.

  • Ali Simeto is speaking with event guests at his booth.

  • Ashley Drakeford from The Capital Market is standing at her booth.

  • The three judges are sitting at their table during the presentations.

  • A large room of finale organizers and attendees are seated and watching a video presentation.

  • Crystal Levine with CodaBax is speaking to an audience in front of a large digital display.

  • The group of ETS Maryland Black Farmers Business Accelerator candidates and judges are posing for the camera at the finale.

Several factors contribute to disparities, including federal programs and policies that exclude Black people from land purchases and limited access to capital through discriminatory lending practices.

<2%

of Maryland farmers are Black

26%

of total Maryland farm sales are from Black farmers

Woman doing a presentation

Selected candidates will:

  • 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen 18 years or older.
  • Be the founder, CEO or someone authorized to make changes to the business or project.
  • Be a Black farmer.
  • Have an office in the Maryland market and affect a community within that market.
  • Address one or more categories of the social determinants of health.
  • Have an innovation that improves health or social/economic inequities.
  • Be available during crucial accelerator dates.
  • Be a profit or nonprofit that focuses on digital health and social impact.

 

Terms and Conditions

Timeline

 

Application period: Aug. 21 – Oct. 2, 2023

Top candidates notified by: Oct. 30, 2023

Training: Nov. 8, 2023 – Jan. 16, 2024

Building Brand Story: Jan. 17 – Feb. 7, 2024

Finale: Feb. 7, 2024

Questions? Email us.

The Empowered to Serve Business Accelerator is a national American Heart Association program that provides social entrepreneurs, startups and businesses focusing on health impact the tools and support to grow and scale. Through this opportunity, the Association provides business training, grants and a lasting connection to our organization.

CareFirst logo

The Maryland Black Farmers EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator is presented by CareFirst.

Learn more about CareFirst