The Best Business Grants in Maryland

Frederick County

The Frederick County Agricultural Innovation Grant is a competitive grant program that provides Frederick County, Maryland agricultural producers with grants starting at $5,000 (with recent award cycles providing individual awards up to roughly $25,000) to help agricultural businesses expand or diversify their operations and improve the long-term economic viability of the local agriculture industry. Administered by the Frederick County Office of Agriculture, the program is funded through a $250,000 annual allocation that is distributed across two grant cycles per year. Since its launch in 2021, the program has awarded more than $2 million to support more than 85 projects across Frederick County, and generated an average return of $3.67 in private investment for every dollar of county funding awarded.

To qualify, applicants must have been operating in Frederick County for at least one year, have recorded at least $2,500 in annual (not cumulative) sales (or include a documented outline of investment in the operation and its impact on future sales in the business plan), provide documented evidence of outreach to Frederick County Planning and Zoning to confirm the proposed project is an allowed use, and fall into one of five eligible applicant categories: crop or livestock producer, value-added producer (as defined by Maryland law), agricultural cooperative, seafood processor, or primary or secondary timber products processor. Prior recipients of an Agriculture Innovation Grant are eligible to reapply but must be in good standing with the expense reporting from any prior award.

Grant funds may be used for research and development, production buildings, major fixtures, and processing facilities. Projects must be completed within six months of the date the grant agreement is executed, and recipients are required to submit monthly Expense Substantiation Forms with backup documentation by the 30th of each month until grant funds are expended in full. Applications are evaluated against a 100-point scoring rubric that covers the description of the project, budget and capital needed, innovation, economic impact, business plan quality (executive summary, operations, marketing plan, financial plan), and first-time grant recipient status. Applications are reviewed by a committee of representatives from the banking, economic development, and agriculture fields, which recommends award recipients to the County Executive for final approval.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$25,000

Maryland Department of Commerce

The Maryland Manufacturing 4.0 grant program provides grants to small and mid-sized Maryland manufacturers to invest in Industry 4.0-related technologies, machinery and robotics, and digital business practices in order to remain competitive and drive growth. 20% of the funds will be reserved for small manufacturers with 3-50 employees.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$500,000

Maryland DHCD

The Maryland NourishMD Grant Program provides Maryland food retailers with grants of $25,000 to $150,000 to expand access to healthy and fresh foods in communities experiencing food insecurity. Administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the program has up to $3.67 million in total funding available per round, drawn from two sources: $2 million in state funds available statewide, and $1.67 million in federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funds specifically for retailers located in designated rural Maryland counties. Dually-sourced awards that combine both funding streams are available for retailers that qualify for both.

Eligible applicants include both for-profit and nonprofit food retailers that serve a community with a Maryland Community Compass (MCC) Fresh Food Gap Score of 65 percent or higher, operate at least five days per week year-round (farmers markets and on-farm markets are exempt from the 5-day requirement but must operate at least 10 months of the year), currently offer (or plan to offer) fresh, frozen, or minimally processed healthy foods, and dedicate at least 20 percent of inventory or food-sales space to healthy food items. Qualifying retailers include grocery stores, corner stores, farm stands and on-farm markets, farmers' markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operations, food co-ops, delivery retailers serving populations with low fresh food access, and small retail stores where the majority of inventory or sales are food-related (provided no more than 25 percent of gross sales are derived from alcohol or tobacco products).

State funds may be used for purchase of furniture, fixtures, and equipment (such as Energy Star-rated refrigeration and shelving), renovation, build-out, and facility upgrades, capital needs related to inventory expansion for non-prepared foods, working capital tied to expansion or renovations, infrastructure and technology for SNAP/EBT setup, purchase of a vehicle for fresh food delivery, and commercial solar installations or heat pumps to reduce operating costs. RHTP funds have a narrower use case, and can be applied to furniture, fixtures, and equipment, facility upgrades that specifically support cold storage or point-of-sale expansion (such as electrical upgrades for a new walk-in, WiFi costs for POS terminal usage, or a cement slab for a new walk-in), SNAP/EBT infrastructure and technology, pre-approved marketing costs to promote RHTP-funded efforts, delivery vehicles, and electrical installations or heat pumps. Expenses related to pre-harvest infrastructure are not eligible under either funding source.

Applications are submitted through a two-tiered process. Tier 1 is a shorter triage application that verifies baseline eligibility (including an automated check confirming the applicant's community meets the 65 percent Fresh Food Gap Score floor) and captures a high-level overview of the business and proposed use of grant funds. Applicants who pass Tier 1 and receive leadership approval are invited to submit a comprehensive Tier 2 application, which includes detailed project narratives, line-item budgets with vendor quotes, and governance and compliance documentation. The program also serves as a vetting engine for broader DHCD initiatives: NourishMD applicants may indicate interest in the DHCD Business Lending program for follow-on direct loans, and are also considered for coordinated funding through the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Maryland Market Money (MMM) partnership, which provides dollar-for-dollar matches on federal nutrition benefit purchases at participating farmers markets, farm stands, and on-farm retailers.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$150,000

Maryland Department of Commerce

​​​​​​​​​​A flexible and broad-based program, Advantage Maryland (also known as MEDAAF) funds conditional grants, loans and investments to assist economic development initiatives. Uses include business attraction and retention, infrastructure support, brownfield redevelopment, arts and entertainment districts, daycare, revolving loan funds and local strategic planning. Projects must be within Priority Funding Areas and eligible industry sectors. Awards are made on a competitive basis.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$1,000,000

City of Baltimore

Funding is available to support businesses and property improvements within Baltimore's Downtown Management Authority boundaries.

Baltimore has multiple grant programs available for façade improvement and the buildout of storefronts. There are also funds available specifically for both minority-owned businesses and restaurant businesses.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$200,000

Baltimore County

The Grant for Revitalizing Office Workspaces (GROW) provides Baltimore County businesses signing their first commercial lease in the county with a one-time grant of $8 per square foot, up to a maximum of $80,000, to help offset initial leasing expenses. Administered by Baltimore County's Department of Economic and Workforce Development, the program is designed to encourage businesses to occupy and revitalize office workspaces across the county. To be eligible, businesses must execute a direct lease with a landlord for a minimum 36-month term on at least 500 square feet of Class A or Class B office space (Class A and Class B Flex space is also considered for businesses with a demonstrated need for laboratory space). Applicants must apply within 180 days of lease execution, have a minimum personal credit score of 625, and have signed their lease after February 14, 2025. Retail, restaurant, independent financial, and insurance agent or broker establishments are not eligible for this program. Awards are issued on a first-come, first-served basis subject to available funding approved by the County Executive and Baltimore County Council.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$80,000

Hartford County

The Harford County Workforce Technical Training Grant (WFTTG) provides Harford County, Maryland employers with reimbursement grants of up to $2,000 per trained employee and up to $10,000 per business annually to help fund technical and apprenticeship training for their workforce. Administered by the Harford County Department of Community and Economic Development, the program is a competitive matching investment grant designed to help local employers become more productive and competitive by accelerating the delivery of technical training to existing full-time, permanent employees. Grant funds are awarded to help employers strengthen their teams' technical skills, improve productivity, and support long-term business growth, and are open to businesses of any industry. Eligible uses of funds include technical training and certifications that contribute to expanding or improving production capabilities, along with formal apprenticeships. Recent recipients have used grant funds to support electrical training, HVAC training, welding qualifications, advanced computer training, and project management training. Grants are awarded twice per year through two competitive funding rounds, with applications reviewed by county staff and awards issued as reimbursements after the training is completed and paid for by the business.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$10,000

Hartford County

The Harford County Workforce Technical Training Grant (WFTTG) provides Harford County, Maryland small businesses with reimbursement grants that cover up to 50 percent of eligible training costs, with awards of up to $2,000 per employee per round and $10,000 per business per fiscal year. Administered by the Harford County Department of Community and Economic Development, the program is a competitive matching investment grant designed to help local employers become more productive and competitive by accelerating the delivery of technical training to existing full-time, permanent employees.

The grant supports intermediate and advanced technical training that leads to industry-recognized certifications and credentials, helping businesses invest in employee growth while building a stronger local workforce. Eligible uses of funds include approved external or internal technical training programs and qualifying apprenticeship programs. Recent recipients have used grant funds to support electrical training, HVAC training, welding qualifications, advanced computer training, and project management training. Over the past 10 years, Harford County's Department of Community and Economic Development has awarded more than $500,000 in training grants to small businesses across a range of industries.

Eligible applicants must be a small business with a physical location in Harford County. Employees to be trained must work in Harford County, be full-time, and earn at least 150 percent of Maryland's minimum wage. The program offers two rounds of competitive funding each fiscal year, with applications reviewed by county staff and awards issued as reimbursements after the training is completed and paid for by the business. Training funded through each round must be completed during that same round's project period.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$10,000

MC Department of Labor

The Maryland Community Investment Venture (MCIV) Fund was created to accelerate the adoption of financial innovations that enhance access to capital and financial services for small business owners in low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities. The MCIV Fund provides grant dollars to fintech firms to pilot products and services in partnership with Maryland state-chartered financial institutions.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$50,000

Maryland Department of Commerce

The Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program and Fund (Fund) is a financing resource operated by the Maryland Department of Commerce (Commerce), to provide grants for innovation infrastructure projects intended to support innovation in an eligible technology sector.

Grant awards may be used to defray the cost a grantee incurs to acquire, construct, rehabilitate, install, improve, or equip an eligible innovation infrastructure project.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$2,000,000

Maryland Department of Commerce

The Cannabis Business Assistance Loan/Grant Fund (CBAF) is a financing resource operated by the Maryland Department of Commerce (Commerce), to provide grants and loans for small businesses, including small, minority-owned and small women-owned businesses entering the adult-use cannabis industry. CBAF may also provide grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for cannabis-related programs and to business development organizations, including incubators, to train and assist small businesses, including minority and women business owners and entrepreneurs, seeking to become licensed to participate in the adult-use cannabis industry.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$525,000

MD Energy Administration

The Maryland Energy Administration Commercial Solar Grant Program ("CSGP", "the Program") will provide grants for solar PV systems installed at Maryland businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations, that will be owned by or directly benefit (1) low-to-moderate income communities located in a census tract with an average median income at or below 80% of the average median income for the State, or (2) overburdened or underserved communities, as defined by §1-701 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. These solar PV systems can help reduce organizational operational costs and improve their sustainability, which can help them better serve the communities that surround them. Solar PV systems are excellent solutions for organizations that seek to free up capital for other expenses and projects, expand operations and offerings sustainably, and help Maryland meet its clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals. This is especially important for Maryland businesses and other organizations that have historically been disadvantaged, overburdened, and underserved.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$500,000

Maryland Department of Commerce

The Sunny Day fund supports extraordinary economic development opportunities that create and retain employment as well as create significant capital investments. Projects must generate significant jobs in areas of high unemployment; they are evaluated on a competitive basis and must be consistent with the state's strategic economic development plan.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$1,000,000

MC Department of Labor

PWQ provides matching training grants and support services targeted to improve the competitive position of small and mid-sized manufacturing and technology companies. Grants are used to increase the skills of existing workers for new technologies and production processes, improve employee productivity and increase employment stability.

Applicants should have a minimum of ten full-time employees. At least 60% of available funds must be awarded to employers with 150 or fewer employees in the State. The Program encourages the participation of small and minority-owned businesses.

Priority will be given to manufacturing and technology companies. In regions of the State where regionally important industries have been identified beyond manufacturing and technology, justification should be provided to approve PWQ funding.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$200,000

MARBIDCO

This grant is designed to meet the needs of MAryland urban farmers by providing an incentive for beginning urban farmers to seek commercial lender financing for the development of their urban agricultural enterprises, including the purchase of a farm property in an eligible urban area. MARBIDCO has partnered with Horizon Farm Credit to establish and manage this fund.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$35,000

Maryland Department of Commerce

Maryland's Winery and Vineyard Economic Development Grant Program provides financial assistance to individuals and corporations to establish a new winery or vineyard in the State or complete capital improvements at an existing winery or vineyard. Commerce will provide a grant to an individual or corporation for 25% of “qualified capital expenses.”

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$1,000,000

MD Economic Development Corporation

The Maryland Business Ready Sites Program (MBRSP) aims to accelerate investment by growing our inventory of shovel-ready sites across the state. By providing financial support to defray the costs of site characterization and site improvements and providing collaborative marketing support, this program will enable significant investment across Maryland from the leading industries of today and tomorrow.

MBRSP was created by Governor Wes Moore on December 19, 2024 by Executive Order, which reimagined how the State of Maryland fosters economic growth. MEDCO is proud to implement this program in close coordination with state, county and municipal economic development officials across Maryland.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$100,000

Maryland Department of Commerce

The Maryland MADE grant program provides grants to small Maryland manufacturers to invest in the adoption and deployment of smart manufacturing and high-performance manufacturing technologies that will increase energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and enable lasting improvements.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$15,000

State of Maryland

The Maryland Technology Internship Program (MTIP) helps Maryland retain top tech talent by increasing the number of paid technical internships offered in the state. Administered by UMBC and funded by the State of Maryland, the program offers financial assistance to small businesses, start-ups, non-profits and state and local agencies, to hire more interns.

The Maryland Technology Internship Program can reimburse employers for up to 50% of an intern’s wage, up to $5,500 annually per intern ($3,000 for the first semester and $2,500 for subsequent semester).

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$5,500

Maryland DOT

The MDOT Small Business Grant Program provides direct grants of up to $50,000 to small businesses located along Maryland's Purple Line light rail corridor that are impacted by construction. Administered by the Maryland Department of Transportation, the program is designed to help offset the operational impact of construction-related closures and detours on businesses within one-quarter mile of the existing or future Purple Line tracks. The program runs from 2025 through 2028 with $1 million awarded each year across up to three application rounds, and is a successor to the earlier Purple Line Construction Zone Grant Program. Grant funds may be used for a wide range of business expenses, including payroll and healthcare benefits, contract labor, working capital, rent or mortgage payments, supplier payments, machinery and equipment, and utilities. In addition to direct grants, the program may also provide marketing funding and other business support for corridor businesses. Awards are competitive and prioritized based on a business's proximity to the most significant construction impacts.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$50,000