The BGE Energizing Small Business Grant program, a partnership initiative between BGE, Hello Alice, and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), offers financial support to help small businesses in central Maryland grow and serve their communities. BGE, or Baltimore Gas and Electric, is the largest utility provider in Maryland, serving over 1.3 million electric and 680,000 gas customers. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation and has a long-standing presence in the state, tracing its roots back to 1816.
This grant program is tailored for for-profit small businesses that are current BGE electric or gas customers and in good standing. The goal of the program is to empower these businesses to continue operations, enhance their customer offerings, and contribute to the local economy. Each selected business will receive a grant of $20,000.
Eligibility requirements are clearly defined. Applicants must be a for-profit entity operating for at least one year at the time of application. They must be a current BGE customer in good standing and compliant or in the process of becoming compliant with the State of Maryland’s legal and business requirements. Additional criteria include having no more than 25 full-time employees and reporting less than $7 million in gross revenue for 2024. Applicants must also show a demonstrated need for funding to help maintain or improve business operations and customer service.
The application deadline for this round is June 13, 2025, at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. All applications will be evaluated by a review committee using criteria laid out in the official Terms and Conditions. Final decisions will be communicated to selected applicants via email around August 2025.
Those who have applied in past rounds and were not selected are encouraged to apply again, with updated information. Applicants are directed to review the Terms and Conditions and FAQs for a comprehensive understanding of the review process and eligibility. Additional support and information can be found on Hello Alice’s platform.
