City of Laurel Returning Citizens Grant Program

The Returning Citizens Employment Grant Program is administered by the City of Laurel Department of Economic and Community Development to provide targeted financial support to small businesses that hire formerly incarcerated individuals. This initiative is designed to foster economic opportunity, public safety, and successful community reintegration for returning citizens while contributing to local business growth. The program provides grants of up to $10,000 to eligible business entities located within the incorporated limits of the City of Laurel. The employer must use these funds to subsidize $5.00 per hour of a qualifying employee’s starting salary. Each grant supports one returning citizen hire per business, with funding available until fully expended. Employers are responsible for paying the remaining hourly wage, which must meet or exceed Maryland’s minimum wage requirements. A total of $50,000 has been allocated from the city’s FY2026 General Operating Budget for the program, allowing for up to five awards. Eligible applicants must be business entities with no more than 50 employees and an annual payroll not exceeding $7 million. They must possess a valid Use and Occupancy permit, be located within City of Laurel boundaries, and be in good standing with all applicable city, county, and state authorities. Only one application per business entity is allowed. The grant is only available to businesses that hire returning citizens who are either actively compliant with parole or probation requirements, or who have fully completed them and have no pending legal cases. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis starting August 1, 2025, and will be accepted until June 30, 2026, or until funds are depleted. Prior to submission, all applicants must complete a pre-application meeting with a staff member. All materials must be submitted electronically through the designated online portal, and incomplete or inaccurate submissions may result in disqualification. Applicants must include several mandatory attachments, including a narrative overview of the business, an estimated position budget and timeline, a program plan outlining job training and responsibilities, and a reporting strategy. Additional documentation is required to verify the returning citizen’s eligibility. Funded businesses must submit quarterly program and fiscal reports and comply with all city grant terms. For questions, applicants can contact the Department of Economic and Community Development at ecd@laurel.md.us.

Schedule your pre-application meeting early. Make sure all uploaded materials are complete, clear, and well-formatted. Submit as soon as the portal opens—only five grants will be awarded.