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Department of Housing and Community Development

State of Maryland Awards More Than $750,000 to Assist Small Businesses and Empower Community Revitalization in Southern Maryland

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 today the department has awarded $753,600 from three state programs to assist small businesses and support local revitalization projects and activities in Southern Maryland. Grants from the Business Boost Microgrant Program, the Main Street Improvement Grant, and Project Restore 2.0 will provide funds to six 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 Southern Maryland’s unique, varied communities 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 $140,800 to assist three businesses, including Stylish Auto Dealer (Charles) in acquiring and enhancing a second auto repair shop and launching its auto wholesale business. The expansion includes the hiring of mechanics and shop personnel.

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 $25,000 to the Town Commissioners of Leonardtown to support the town’s Main Street Manager position.

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, $588,600 was awarded as a block grant to three place-based economic development organizations, nonprofit or local government entities that work to improve a specific jurisdiction within the state. The Board of County Commissioners for Calvert County, the Charles County Charitable Trust, Inc., and the Town Commissioners of Leonardtown 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:

  • “Leonardtown is honored to receive the Restore 2.0 grant this week continuing the important partnership with the Dept of Housing and Community Development and the State of Maryland in the effort to revitalize our downtowns and support our locally owned businesses,” said Leonardtown Mayor Dan Burris.
  • “Thank you to the State of Maryland for giving us a huge boost in growing our business,” said Robin Michelle Delos, Owner of Stylish Auto Dealer. “The grant funds from the Business Boost Microgrant Program will assist us with acquiring a second auto repair shop and at the same time launching our auto wholesale business. This expansion includes hiring additional mechanics and shop personnel and by doing this, we will have an even bigger positive impact on our local community by creating more jobs with sustainable wages for Maryland workers to support their families.”
  • “Maryland DHCD Business Boost Grant program and process has proven to be one of the best run economic development programs I have witnessed in decades,” said Larry Sutton, CEO of Genesis Consulting Solutions. “I was pleasantly surprised with the efficiency of the application process, seamless interface and knowledgeable DHCD staff. As a business owner, taking risks is absolutely essential to growth and success. The Business Boost Grant program has considerably curbed that risk by providing added capital as well as the state and local government support required to erect a brand-new technology office, stimulate new innovations and expand our core staff within one of Maryland’s acute Sustainable Communities and Opportunity Zones.”

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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