Senators Van Hollen and Cardin, Rep. Harris Announce $1.6 Million to Support University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Center of Excellence

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representative Andy Harris (all Md.) announced $1.6 million in federal funding to support the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s (UMES) Center of Excellence for International Engagement and Development (CEIED). CEIED aims to meet the challenges of globalization through skills training at home and abroad, international trade and development, and research and education.

“UMES plays a vital role in educating, training, and developing a highly-skilled workforce for the Shore,” said Senator Van Hollen. “This funding will enable UMES’s Center of Excellence to expand this critical work and provide new, innovative education programming to its students. I will continue working to support UMES and our Eastern Shore agricultural communities.”

“A strong and diverse agricultural and food science workforce is of critical national importance,” said Cardin. “These federal funds will help UMES to continue to prepare the next generation of leaders in these fields.”

“These funds will help UMES students receive the top tier training and education needed to help the Eastern Shore economy and support our local communities,” said Representative Harris. 

The funds for UMES and two other 1890 Land-Grant Institutions come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) 1890 Centers of Excellence Grants program. More information on the 1890 Land-Grant Institutions Programs is available from NIFA here.