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Department of Housing and Community Development

State of Maryland Awards Nearly $2.9 Million to Assist Small Businesses and Empower Community Revitalization in Maryland’s Capital Region

Three programs will provide funds to businesses, local governments, and economic development organizations

NEW CARROLLTON, MD (July 15, 2024) – Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day announced the department has awarded more than $2.9 million from three state programs to assist small businesses and support local revitalization projects and activities in the Capital Region. Grants from the Business Boost Microgrant Program, the Main Street Improvement Grant, and Project Restore 2.0 will provide funds to 24 businesses, local governments, and place-based economic development organizations to spur community revitalization by attracting, retaining, and expanding small businesses, as well as through the promotion of local, cultural attractions and events.

“To ensure the continued quality of our communities and to improve the quality of life for all their residents, we must revitalize their hearts – downtowns, Main Streets, and other important community hubs and places,” said Secretary Day. “This important funding will strengthen these hearts by supporting the growth of small businesses that provide local services and job opportunities and the events and attractions that make the unique, varied communities in Maryland’s Capital Region such great and lovable places.”

The Business Boost Microgrant Program assists businesses seeking to expand or establish a location with preference given to home-based businesses establishing their first commercial location outside of the home. Applicants were also required to meet one or more of the priority impact attributes that contribute to Maryland’s economic growth, such as supporting minority and women-owned businesses, driving innovation or technology advancements, growing new industries, or leveraging existing regional strengths. Business Boost awarded $486,800 to assist 11 businesses, including:

  • POM Studio (Prince George’s), based in Bowie, is a growing architectural practice that is transitioning  from a home office to a commercial space to support its employees. Grant funds will support the renovation of a new office and provide working capital for additional rent, utilities, and other facility-related expenses.
  • Expansion of Puerto Rico Distillery (Frederick) into a newly acquired 12,600 sf building in Brunswick to house new equipment and increase staff to triple its current production to meet additional demand.

The Main Street Improvement Grant Program provides operating assistance to the local governments or economic development organizations in Maryland’s designated and affiliated Main Street Maryland communities and Baltimore City’s designated Main Street neighborhoods. Grants help awardees achieve their community revitalization and economic development goals, including creating and retaining small businesses and increasing tourism for local events and attractions. The program awarded $210,000 in grants to 9 awardees, including:

  • Design, construction, and installation of public art in the Main Street district of the Town of Thurmont (Frederick).
  • Funding for the City of Upper Marlboro’s (Prince George’s) downtown maintenance and beautification program.

Project Restore 2.0 seeks to activate vacant buildings, support small businesses, and increase local economic activity by providing financial support to improve the vitality of Maryland’s commercial corridors. Unlike prior rounds of the program which directly funded businesses, $2,173,913 was awarded as block grants to 10 place-based economic development organizations, nonprofit or local government entities that work to improve a specific jurisdiction within the state. Awardees including the Downtown Frederick Partnership, the Montgomery Housing Partnership, and the City of College Park (Prince George’s) will sub-grant the funds to for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations, cooperatively-owned businesses, and social enterprises to start up or expand into vacant buildings in their jurisdictions.

Here’s what local leaders and awardees are saying about the announcement:

  • “Without the invaluable partnership of the State, our community would not have been able to complete projects such as this,” said Emmitsburg Mayor Frank Davis. “We look forward to the continued success of this collaborative relationship in the future and the new welcome signs that will foster a sense of pride and connection among all who enter our town.”
  • “The Town is very happy that Main Street Middletown, MD Inc. has secured Project Restore 2.0 grant funds to help a minority-woman owned business renovate the former US post office building on North Church Street,” said Middletown Burgess John Miller. “In addition, funds will also be used to attract a new tenant for the second commercial space in Memorial Hall adding to a growing commercial district. We are excited to see the growth of our downtown and very proud of our Main Street program led by manager Becky Axilbund.”
  • “Puerto Rico Distillery is extremely grateful and appreciative of the support provided by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development,” said Angel Rivera, Co-Founder of Puerto Rico Distillery. “Their Business Boost Microgrant will enable our purchase of equipment that will allow us to quadruple our rum production when we move our operations to Brunswick, Maryland. These equipment purchases will allow us to increase production to meet our projected increase in wholesale and onsite sales, will result in additional jobs in Brunswick, and will boost our economic activity in Maryland.”
  • “The Business Boost grant will support me in continuing to transform my business post-COVID by leveraging technology to streamline operations, enabling better customer service and creating more engaging and value-added work opportunities for my employees,” said Stacey Brown, Owner and Chief Image Builder of Signarama Silver Spring.
  • “We are thrilled and honored to be selected for the Maryland Business Boost Grant,” said Portia Strahan, Owner and Principal of POM Studio. “This grant will significantly enhance our ability to innovate and expand, allowing us to better serve our clients and community. We look forward to utilizing these resources to further our mission of delivering exceptional architectural solutions that prioritize people and planet.”
  • “The grant will help Serenity Swimming LLC tremendously in opening an indoor swim school in Frederick near the airport allowing for children and adults to learn the critical life skill of swimming and water safety,” said Jenni Hoover, Owner of Serenity Swimming, LLC. “The BOOST grant will boost the number of safe swimmers in Frederick and expand the availability of private swim lessons to Frederick’s growing community.”
  • “Thank you for the support for the New Market Main Street Program,” said Patricia Faux, Town Planner for the Town of New Market. “This funding enables us to do so much more for our town economy!”
  • “Sincere thanks to Governor Wes Moore, DHCD Secretary Jake Day and the entire DHCD Team for funding the Mount Rainier Mural Arts Project,” said Ronald Hopkins, Director of Economic Development for the City of Mount Rainier. “Consequently, the creation and implementation of the Mount Rainier Mural Arts Project will beautify and improve the aesthetics of 2 commercial properties located in our downtown area, while boosting economic activity by attracting businesses and cultural events to our Main Street Affiliate designated district.”
  • “MHP is thrilled to be a recipient of one of Maryland’s Project Restore 2.0 Grant awards,” said Chris Gillis, Director of Policy and Neighborhood Development at Montgomery Housing Partnership. “The grant funds will enable MHP to make improvements to the interior of the historic Flower Theatre in the Long Branch neighborhood of Silver Spring, and breathe new life into a cherished community space.”
  • “Downtown Frederick Partnership is thrilled to receive funding to help create a small-scale food hall,” said Kara Norman, Executive Director of Downtown Frederick Partnership. “This new project will provide an accessible entry point for entrepreneurs and help diversify business ownership and offerings in our downtown.”

For more information about the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development business assistance and Main Street improvement programs, visit http://dhcd.maryland.gov.

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