Maryland Business and Commerce Grants

This program provides $10,000 grants to new small businesses in Laurel, Maryland, to support their growth and job creation within the local economy.

This program provides financial support for essential improvements to commercial buildings in The City of Frederick, targeting small businesses, including those owned by minorities and women, as well as businesses involved in neighborhood revitalization or recovery from disasters.

This program provides financial support to small and mid-sized businesses in Maryland to help cover costs associated with international marketing efforts.

This funding initiative provides financial support to local communities in the Appalachian Region for projects that enhance critical infrastructure and promote business and workforce development.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses with five or fewer employees in Hagerstown, aimed at promoting job creation and economic growth for low- to moderate-income residents.

This initiative provides funding to support large-scale economic development projects across the Appalachian region, focusing on workforce development, business growth, infrastructure improvements, and community capacity building.

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The Economic Development Fund, supported by the East Tennessee Foundation, is designed to advance regional economic development through charitable and educational programs. This grant program directly aligns with the foundation's mission by fostering economic growth and stability within selected counties of Tennessee. The foundation's strategic priority is to invest in initiatives that contribute to the long-term well-being and prosperity of the region, utilizing a theory of change that posits that targeted support for economic and educational programs will lead to a more vibrant and sustainable local economy. The program targets 501(c)(3) public charities, units of government, and public educational institutions. New or emerging groups without nonprofit status can apply with a fiscal sponsor. The ideal beneficiaries are organizations that demonstrate a commitment to non-discrimination, ensuring that their projects do not exclude individuals based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, familial status, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status. The impact goals are centered on strengthening the economic infrastructure and educational opportunities within the community. The fund prioritizes projects that contribute to regional economic development, with a particular focus on programs that align with the foundation’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. While faith-based organizations are welcome to apply, their projects must not have explicit religious content, express a particular religious view, limit participation based on faith affiliation, or require participation in religious activities or services. This ensures that the grants support broadly accessible community-focused initiatives. Expected outcomes include enhanced economic activity, increased educational attainment, and a more robust regional economy. Measurable results will be assessed through the one-year grant term, from August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025. The grants, ranging from $5,000 to $6,500, are intended to provide meaningful support for projects that can demonstrate tangible progress within this timeframe. The foundation expects to see clear evidence of how the funding has contributed to the stated economic development and educational goals.

The City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development has launched a new grant opportunity called “ACCESS GRANTED.” This initiative is designed to support small minority and women-owned businesses, both start-up and established, by providing access to capital for specific projects aimed at scaling their operations. The program aligns with the city's mission to foster a supportive and inclusive business environment, enabling entrepreneurs to achieve their full potential. The primary beneficiaries of the "ACCESS GRANTED" program are small minority and women-owned businesses within The City of Frederick limits. The impact goal is to empower these businesses by providing financial assistance that will facilitate their growth and development. This initiative aims to address the challenges these businesses face in accessing capital, thereby contributing to a more equitable and robust local economy. The program prioritizes small minority and/or women-owned businesses that are physically located within The City of Frederick limits. Eligibility criteria include being a registered for-profit business, being in good standing in the state of Maryland, and having no more than 25 full-time equivalent employees. These criteria ensure that the funding reaches businesses that are genuinely in need of support and are poised for growth within the city. The City of Frederick has earmarked $400,000 for this program, with individual grant sizes ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. The expected outcome is a tangible increase in the capacity and scalability of participating businesses, leading to job creation, economic growth, and enhanced community vibrancy. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the financial allocation, the program's success will likely be evaluated by the number of businesses supported, the scale of projects undertaken, and the overall economic impact on the community.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local businesses and non-profits for community-focused projects that promote public engagement, enhance public spaces, and foster economic growth in Hyattsville.

The General Operating Grants (GOG) program, offered by the Allegany Arts Council (AAC), is designed to support the daily operations of 501(c)3 arts agencies within Allegany County, Maryland. The program aims to address critical funding gaps that often hinder arts organizations from compensating professional staff, maintaining facilities, or pursuing capital improvements. This initiative aligns with the AAC's mission to foster and sustain a vibrant arts community by providing essential operational support, thereby ensuring the continued availability of arts-related programming and general organizational functionality in the region. The target beneficiaries of the GOG program are non-profit, 501(c)3 arts organizations (or those eligible for IRS tax-exempt status) based in Allegany County, with programming and business primarily conducted within the county. The program seeks to impact the local community by ensuring that arts-related programs and events funded by GOG money are accessible to the general public. The overarching impact goal is to stimulate, rather than replace, community support for the arts and to promote broad participation and engagement in artistic endeavors, free from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicap. The program prioritizes the use of funds for arts-related programming or general organizational operations. It explicitly excludes funding for capital purchases, fundraising events, or social functions. A significant focus is placed on community engagement and support, as evidenced by the requirement of a 1:1 cash match, where GOG funding cannot exceed one-half of the proposed program budget. Funds from the Maryland State Arts Council and in-kind or donated services are not eligible for this match, emphasizing the need for direct community and organizational investment. Furthermore, programs that proselytize for specific political actions or religious beliefs are strictly not eligible for funding. Expected outcomes include enhanced operational stability for local arts organizations, leading to a greater capacity to offer diverse arts programming to the Allegany County public. Measurable results will include the provision of final grant reports at the conclusion of the grant period, detailing how the funds were utilized and the impact achieved. Grantees are also required to notify the AAC of any major program changes and comply with various civil rights and anti-discrimination acts, ensuring equitable access and participation. The program's strategic priority is to strengthen the local arts infrastructure, and its theory of change posits that by providing direct operational support and encouraging community matching funds, local arts agencies will be better equipped to deliver high-quality, accessible arts experiences, thereby enriching the cultural landscape of Allegany County.

This funding initiative provides financial support to businesses and organizations along the Route 40 corridor in Cecil County, Maryland, for exterior improvements and revitalization efforts, with a special focus on removing blighted structures.

The Harford County Office of Economic Development administers the Harford Strides Fund as a temporary grant program to assist tourism related organizations in the infancy stage of program development. The fund supports organizations building models for long term sustainability that draw audiences from outside the county and encourage overnight hotel stays. Applicants must demonstrate success, lessons learned, and best practices, show clear intent to drive overnight stays, document hardship that jeopardizes program or operations but for county funding, and show pursuit of additional funding sources. Organizations must occupy a niche within tourism and may not apply if they have submitted to the Partnership Fund. Eligible applicants are Harford County 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organizations in good standing with the state and registered as Maryland charitable organizations. The program has 220,000 dollars available and may provide support for up to two consecutive years, subject to eligibility and need. Applications are due May 3, 2024. Grant size is determined by need and available funds. Additional information is available from the Harford County Office of Economic Development.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in St. Mary’s County that aim to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations through culturally competent and evidence-based initiatives.

This program provides funding to Maryland-based businesses, nonprofits, and agricultural entities for energy efficiency projects and improvements that go beyond current standards.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofits and community organizations in Baltimore to implement projects that enhance heritage tourism and improve neighborhood quality of life through activities like signage, beautification, and revitalization planning.

The Town of Bladensburg Community Grant Program aims to support non-profit organizations through operating and/or capital grants. Operating grants provide funds for the day-to-day costs of running an organization, while capital grants assist with the purchase of equipment, supplies, or capital improvements. The program's mission aligns with enhancing community well-being by funding initiatives that empower youth, families, and individuals towards an improved quality of life and self-sufficiency, preserve and enhance community character, contribute to a vibrant economy, and promote community revitalization, economic development, and environmental sustainability. The target beneficiaries are non-profit organizations that provide services to the Bladensburg community. The program seeks to impact youth, families, and individuals by improving their quality of life and fostering self-sufficiency. Additionally, the program aims to benefit the community at large through programs that preserve local character, stimulate the economy, and promote revitalization and sustainability. The program prioritizes projects that demonstrate administrative and financial capacity, align with the outlined criteria, provide maximum public benefit in relation to cost, and leverage additional funds. While the grant size can range from $1,000 to $10,000, the maximum funding available per applicant is up to $2,000, subject to the final FY24 approved budget. Expected outcomes include improved quality of life and self-sufficiency for residents, enhanced community character, a more vibrant local economy, and successful community revitalization and environmental sustainability initiatives. Measurable results would be determined by the specific projects funded, but generally relate to the number of individuals served, improvements in community assets, economic growth indicators, and environmental impacts. The Town of Bladensburg's strategic priorities for this grant program are clearly rooted in fostering a thriving and sustainable community. Their theory of change is that by investing in non-profit organizations that align with their core criteria—empowering individuals, enhancing community character, contributing to the economy, and promoting revitalization and sustainability—they can achieve significant public benefit and drive positive, lasting change within Bladensburg. This approach emphasizes leveraging local organizations' expertise to address critical community needs.

Name of Funding Organization: Cecil County, Maryland Contact Information: Not provided in the input Grant Program: FY24 Cecil County Route 40 Revitalization Grant Program Intent: The grant aims to assist businesses and organizations located along the Route 40 corridor in Cecil County, Maryland to improve their exterior visual appearance and function. The goal is to enhance the overall visual appearance and increase utilization of these businesses and organizations. Award Details: The maximum award per grant application is $25,000. Grant funds are intended to be used for exterior improvement projects visible from Route 40. Up to 20% of the grant funds may be used for specified interior improvements with prior approval. All funding is contingent upon funding from the State of Maryland and approval of Cecil County Council. Eligibility: Businesses and organizations, both for-profit and non-profit, located within Cecil County along the Route 40 corridor with a Route 40/Pulaski Highway address are eligible to apply. Applicants must be in good standing with the IRS, State of Maryland, and Cecil County. Other Relevant Information: - Applicants must match the funds they are applying for. - Project designs must be approved by Cecil County Government. - Demolition of derelict structures visible from Route 40 will be considered. - Disbursement of grant funding will only be made on a reimbursement basis. - Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis starting January 1, 2024. - Grant funds must be expended by June 30, 2024. Eligible Activities: Signage, Lighting, Roofing, Siding, Painting, Entrance, Porch/Deck, Fencing, Landscaping/Hardscaping, Sidewalks, Driveway, Parking, ADA Ramp, Demolition Ineligible Activities: Improvements to primary residence, Interior renovations, Improvements not visible from Route 40, Trash Removal Project Evaluation: The Grant Review Committee will evaluate applications based on criteria such as completeness, enhanced visual appearance from Route 40, stability of business/organization, positive impact on the business and community, clear explanation of how grant funds will be used, adherence to maximum limit of $25,000, identification of matching funds sources, preference

The Montgomery County Office of Grants Management is offering its 2025 School-Based Food Assistance Grant Program. This program aims to bolster food security for students and their families by funding initiatives co-located at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) sites. The overarching goal is to address critical gaps in healthy food access for children and families and to foster innovative approaches to integrate food assistance directly within school communities. The program aligns with a strategic priority to support projects that effectively tackle food insecurity and leverage school sites for broader community benefit, demonstrating a theory of change focused on direct, accessible, and community-embedded food support. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are students and families in Montgomery County who rely on school meals or face barriers to food access, such as transportation challenges. The impact goals are to increase nutrition security and provide convenient access to essential food resources. Successful programs are expected to demonstrate past experience in operating school-based food assistance programs with MCPS, propose quickly actionable program models for new schools, and identify potential zip codes, capacity, resource needs, and expansion formats. The program prioritizes projects that address significant needs in healthy food access for children and families and/or offer innovative models for co-locating food assistance at MCPS school sites. The Office of Food and Special Programs (OFSR) is collaborating with MCPS to identify priority school sites based on community need and the anticipated impact of new or expanded programming. This strategic focus ensures that funding is directed where it can have the most profound effect on alleviating food insecurity. The expected outcomes include the establishment or expansion of diverse food assistance models, such as choice pantries offering culturally relevant and healthy foods, pre-packed box/bag distributions with locally sourced produce, medically or preference-tailored prepared meal deliveries, and grocery gift card distributions to address transportation and other barriers. The total grant funding available is $1,250,000, with individual awards ranging from $40,000 to $300,000, and a performance period from approximately August 15, 2024, to June 30, 2025. This financial commitment and flexible programming range are designed to generate measurable results in terms of increased access to nutritious food and improved food security for the target population.

This grant provides financial support to businesses in Takoma Park for capital improvements and renovations to help them establish, grow, or enhance their operations.