Maryland Workforce Development Grants

In an imaginative new program designed to stimulate the revenue growth of underrepresented artists and makers in Frederick County, Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC) proudly presents the Creative Capital Microgrant Program, in partnership with the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED). Donor Name: Maryland Women’s Business Center State: Maryland County: Frederick County (MD) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/30/2024 Size of the Grant: Less than $1000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Creative Capital Microgrant (CCM) Program offers a financial microgrant of up to $1,000 to qualified businesses in creative industries to support specific projects that use traditional business practices—such as marketing, social media, and online sales platforms—to accelerate a short-term return on investment and can be replicated for ongoing growth. A CCM Review Committee has been established to review applications and select grantees based on their eligibility, overall business assessment, evaluation of proposed project, and the ability to replicate it for future revenue. The program aligns with MWBC’s and FCOED’s strategy to support underrepresented business owners through projects that support Frederick’s vision for small business and economic development: Generating additional revenue, with an emphasis on traditionally under-employed populations Retaining and expanding local business services Supporting business-to-community engagement Establishing a foundation for future business success Creating a social impact. Project Eligibility To be eligible, CCM projects must yield a short-term return on investment and be replicable for future business growth. These include but are not limited to: Marketing initiatives with a call to action Social media setup and enhancement Search engine optimization (SEO) strategies Targeted advertising on Facebook, Instagram, or Google Direct mail or drip email campaign implementation Web development, design, and/or copywriting Establishment of new sales channels, including online shopping platforms Video production Professional photography for online galleries or portfolios Promotional expenses for studio open houses or in-house shows Support for show entry fees with sales opportunities Branding and logo design or redesign. Program Eligibility To be considered for the CCM Program, prospective businesses must: Be located in Frederick County Be registered and in good standing with the State of Maryland Establish eligibility as an underrepresented community Have earned less than $55,000 of gross revenue in 2023 from the art associated with the business Applicants will have three months to complete their projects and, to further support the businesses, grant recipients will receive personalized business counseling and attend training classes designed for creative business owners. Upon conclusion of the program, will be invited to participate in a community event to showcase their work. For more information, visit Maryland Women’s Business Center.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund Grant: Rural Health. Donor Name: Rural Maryland Council State: Maryland County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/17/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: The objective of the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund is to help raise the overall standard of living in rural areas to a level that meets or exceeds statewide benchmark averages by 2030 while preserving the best aspects of a pastoral cultural and rural way of life. Resources provided to the Fund are designed to facilitate significant targeted investments in important economic and community development programs and promote regional and intergovernmental cooperation. These investments will also enable local and regional public and nonprofit organizations to leverage additional non-state financial and human resources to facilitate the realization of sustainable rural development objectives. The Fund will serve the interests of the entire State by: Encouraging the increase of entrepreneurial activity and commerce and a balanced economy in the State; Relieving conditions of unemployment and underemployment in rural areas; assisting in the retention of valuable farm and forest land for productive use by present and future generations; Promoting intergovernmental cooperation and public sector/private sector partnerships in and between rural and other areas; Enhancing the deployment of housing, transportation, water, wastewater, and broadband communications infrastructure and services in rural areas; Supporting rural commercial center redevelopment and community revitalization efforts; and, Generally promoting the health, happiness, safety, employment opportunity, and general welfare of the residents of each of the rural counties and municipal corporations of the State. Healthcare: Health care access and delivery is a major problem in the State’s rural areas. Residents often need to travel great distances to seek health care services due to health workforce shortages. This problem is in primary care and is particularly acute in specialty care such as surgical specialties, dentistry, mental health, and other medical specialty areas. Eligible health care projects will range from health care planning, to health program implementation and evaluation, and will include projects pertaining to the following: Improving access to health and medical/dental/behavioral health care Tele-medicine and telehealth networking Programs that focus on planning and/or coordination of health care Programs that address rural population health needs Programs that ensure health care insurance and treatment enrollment Programs that implement and measure the accomplishment of components of the state’s rural health plan Rural Nonemergency Medical Transportation: Projects could include the following components better coordination (between industries, funding sources/coverage), 2) provides interregional transportation, and 3) on-demand response. Recruitment and retention of health care and public health professionals Programs to aid recruitment of health care providers Rural residency programs in primary care and medical/surgical specialties and dentistry Housing projects to support rural rotations of medical students/ health professions students Pipeline and pathway programs for future and existing health care workers Behavioral and mental health Programs to address: Substance use disorder, including alcohol, opioids and prescription drugs Depression and counseling, suicide prevention Domestic abuse and violence Chronic disease prevention and management Health education on diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancers prevalent in rural Maryland, hypertension/high blood pressure Disease management programs Research and treatment of health impacts on minority populations, and in particular, prenatal care Oral and dental health Funding Information For Fiscal Year 2025, the RMC has budgeted $1,500,000 for health care projects in the General Funds for the health care portion of the RMPIF program. Grant Period August 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  Applicants must be a local government, institute of higher education, regional council, or be a 501(c)(3) IRS tax designation or similar and serve a regional or statewide rural constituency. Eligible applicants include federally qualified health centers, area health education centers, local health clinics, and other rural-serving health organizations. The applicant does not have to be located in a rural area or in the area it serves. For more information, visit RMC.

The Rural Maryland Council is accepting applications for 2025 Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund Grant: Regional Planning and Development Councils. Donor Name: Rural Maryland Council State: Maryland County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/17/2024 Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: The objective of the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) is to help raise the overall standard of living in rural areas to a level that meets or exceeds statewide benchmark averages by 2030 while preserving the best aspects of a cultural heritage and rural way of life. Resources provided to the Fund are designed to facilitate significant targeted investments in important economic and community development programs and promote regional and intergovernmental cooperation. These investments will also enable local and regional public and nonprofit organizations to leverage additional non-state financial and human resources to facilitate the realization of sustainable rural development objectives. The Fund will serve the interests of the entire State by: Encouraging the increase of entrepreneurial activity and commerce and a balanced economy in the State; Relieving conditions of unemployment and underemployment in rural areas; Assisting in the retention of valuable farm and forest land for productive use by present and future generations; Promoting intergovernmental cooperation and public sector/private sector partnerships in and between rural and other areas; Enhancing the deployment of housing, transportation, water, wastewater, and broadband communications infrastructure and services in rural areas; Supporting rural commercial center redevelopment and community revitalization efforts; and, Generally promoting the health, happiness, safety, employment opportunity, and general welfare of the residents of each of the rural counties and municipal corporations of the State. Regional Councils: The General Assembly has established five regional planning and development councils to concentrate on the needs of specific rural regions and ensure that those areas are not overlooked in public policy discussions. Each council serves a three-county area that is geographically, culturally and socioeconomically similar. By working together and ignoring jurisdictional lines when need be, the rural regions have become stronger and more effective in finding solutions to the challenges before them. The regional councils have brought elected, civic, and business leaders in their regions together to help create economic development strategies, preserve and assist agricultural and resource-based industries, obtain federal funding for infrastructure improvements, coordinate and sometimes even manage regional transportation projects (including public transit services), and develop support for a diverse set of public policy initiatives. Rural regional planning and development assistance will provide grants specifically for projects and activities of the five rural regional planning and development councils and for other multi-county rural improvement efforts. The Councils have established strategic needs within the rural communities which will be reflected in the approved grant agreements. Funding Information Each regional council is eligible to receive $600,000 in FY2025 for rural regional planning and development assistance. Eligibility Criteria  Tri-County Council of Western Maryland, Tri-County Council of Southern Maryland, Upper Shore Regional Council, Mid-Shore Regional Council, Tri-County Council of the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland, and multicounty efforts serving rural communities in areas not served by the regional councils. For more information, visit RMC.

This funding supports regional planning and development councils in Maryland to enhance economic growth and infrastructure in rural areas, with each council eligible for up to $600,000 to address local challenges.

This funding opportunity supports rural Maryland communities in improving essential infrastructure like broadband, water, and transportation through collaborative projects that enhance living standards and promote regional development.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for innovative health care projects in rural Maryland to improve access to medical, dental, and behavioral health services, while also focusing on recruiting health care professionals and managing chronic diseases.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to rural Maryland businesses and organizations focused on entrepreneurship, agriculture, workforce development, and community enhancement to improve living standards and preserve cultural heritage.

The FY25 Workforce Development Grant is dedicated to supporting educational and training opportunities aimed at enhancing workforce capabilities. With a special focus on populations such as people with disabilities, high school juniors and seniors, non-traditional students, nonprofit professionals, and skilled workers in critical sectors, the grant provides up to $7,500 for qualified applicants. Programs eligible for funding include summer work experiences, pre-apprenticeship programs, internships, occupational skills training with recognized credentials, concurrent educational programs, and leadership development initiatives. Additional consideration is given based on the scope of impact, collaborative efforts, organizational competence, and fiscal sustainability of applying organizations. Grant renewed every year.

The Community Engagement Cluster and the Office of Grants Management are soliciting grant applications under the County’s FY 2024 Place-Based Management Grants Program from qualified organizations that support economic growth and revitalization initiatives across the County’s commercial corridors, both nascent and established. Donor Name: Montgomery County Office of Grants Management State: Maryland County: Montgomery County (MD) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/08/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: The focus of the grants program is to enhance bottom-up economic development efforts serving residents and businesses by using Place-Based Management strategies aligned with the Main Street Approach. Generally, activities are envisioned to fall into the following two categories: Provision of assistance to commercial areas to retain, expand, and attract neighborhood-serving retail and other small businesses; and Unification and strengthening of commercial corridors through events, promotion, marketing, maintenance, and diverse stakeholder engagements. All activities are required to actively engage with stakeholders, including residents, businesses, and the Montgomery County Government. Funding Priorities Priority in awarding funding will be given to projects which provide services or meet needs that fall under at least three of the four points of the Main Street Approach: Economic Vitality focuses on capital, incentives, and other economic and financial tools to assist new and existing businesses, catalyze property development, and create a supportive environment for entrepreneurs and innovators that drive local economies. Design supports a community’s transformation by enhancing the physical and visual assets that set the commercial district apart. Promotion positions the downtown or commercial district as the center of the community and hub of economic activity, while creating a positive image that showcases a community’s unique characteristics. Organization involves creating a strong foundation for a sustainable revitalization effort, including cultivating partnerships, community involvement, and resources for the district. Funding Information Montgomery County Government anticipates awarding $400,000 through approximately two to five awards. It is anticipated that each grant award may range between $25,000 and $200,000. The final amount will be dependent upon grant activities and final negotiation and may be lower or higher than the range. The duration of any grant award under this solicitation is expected to be 12 months with possibility for renewal for up to three total years contingent on satisfactory performance and funds availability Eligible Expenses  Eligible expenses under this grants program include operating costs defined as costs that support ongoing expenditures associated with projects. Illustrative operating expenses include but are not limited to: Administrative expenses to fund a Program Manager and support staff Community or business outreach Implementation of neighborhood economic development activities Neighborhood place making and place management. Target Populations The target populations for this grant are businesses and residents of the identified commercial corridor. Eligibility Criteria  Applicants must meet all the following conditions: The organization must have a Federal 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6) tax-exempt status or be a collaboration between two or more entities with at least one having this status; The organization must be currently registered and in Good Standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT); All activities and expenditures under this grant program must be provided in Montgomery County OR be exclusively for Montgomery County residents if activities and expenditures occur outside of the County; Current Montgomery County contract or grant award winners must be current on all reporting obligations for other awards and those reports must reflect substantial progress towards the goals of their awards; Proposed expenses must be for a new activity, expansion of existing activities, or a combination of both. County funding cannot be used to supplant other funding for already planned activities; Applicants may only submit one application per organization under this NOFO; Organizations that were funded under this program last year are eligible to apply. If submitting a multi-year application, please note that FY23 counts as Year 1. As such, they may submit applications that request funding for up to two more years. For more information, visit Montgomery County Office of Grants Management.

The Harford Strides Fund has $220,000 available as a temporary grant for up to two consecutive years to help tourism-related organizations, which are in the infancy stage of program development. Donor Name: Harford County Office of Economic Development State: Maryland County: Harford County (MD) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/03/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Eligibility Criteria  Must be a Harford County 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 in good standing with Maryland’s State Department of Assessment and Taxation AND a registered organization as a Maryland charitable organization. Must articulate successes, lessons learned, and other best practices in its business model, demonstrating how the organization is building toward a model for long-term sustainability as an easily identifiable tourism-related, collaborative program or operation that draws its audience from OUTSIDE the borders of Harford County and encourages overnight hotel stays. Must clearly articulate the intent of the applicant’s program or operations is to drive overnight hotel stays in Harford County. Must clearly document hardship that puts program or operations in jeopardy “but for County funding” and demonstrates that “but for this County contribution,” the organization would be unable to execute the program or operations as described for this year. Must clearly demonstrate the ability to pursue additional funding sources, other than Harford County Government, that support the program or event through sponsorship, another grant donor, fundraising efforts, etc. Must demonstrate a niche role in offering tourism-related program or operation. Must not have submitted an application for the Partnership Fund. For more information, visit HCOED.

The Recovery Friendly Workplace Pilot Program, launched by the Maryland Department of Labor, aims to create a supportive environment for employees recovering from substance use disorders. The program encourages employers to adopt workplace policies that assist in employee recovery, provides stigma-reducing education, and facilitates research on recovery-friendly practices. It seeks to promote workplace well-being and recovery for employees and their families while fostering community awareness.

This program provides up to $25,000 in financial assistance to homeowners in New Carrollton for home repairs and improvements, specifically targeting those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This program provides financial support to small businesses in Hagerstown to create and retain jobs for low-to-moderate income individuals while revitalizing commercial spaces and promoting local economic growth.

​The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) provides funding to assist Maryland’s designated and affiliate Main Street Maryland communities and Baltimore City’s designated Main Street neighborhoods in building capacity to achieve their community revitalization and economic development goals in designated Sustainable Community areas​ throughout the state. Donor Name: Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development State: Maryland City: Baltimore Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/17/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Eligible Activities Grants can be used for staff and consultant services, general operating expenses, market and business recruitment strategies to improve a business district, street furniture, advertising, façade improvements and other projects that have been identified in the applicant’s work plans as key to its Main Street efforts. The project and/or activities that funds are being requested for should support the goals and outcomes of the applicant’s annual work plan and contribute to the transformation strategy of the community. All projects and/or activities should be completed within one year; a funding match is not required. Who Can Apply​ Only the 34 designated and 9 affiliate Main Street Maryland communities and 8 Baltimore City’s designated Main Street neighborhoods are eligible to request Main Street Improvement Program funds. Main Street Improvement Program (MIP) Grant awards are allocated funds that are distributed in equal amounts to designated Main Street Maryland, participating Main Street Maryland Affiliates and designated Baltimore City Main Street neighborhoods as follows: Designed Main Street Maryland Communities: expected to be $25,000 each. Main Street Maryland Affiliates: expected to be $10,000 each. Baltimore City Main Street Neighborhoods: expected to be $8,000 each. For more information, visit DHCD.