Small Business Grants in Maryland
Most Maryland small business money comes from Commerce and DHCD, and much of it is not a grant. ExportMD is the one open to any Maryland exporter, at up to $5,000 a year.
Most Maryland small business money comes from Commerce and DHCD, and much of it is not a grant. ExportMD is the one open to any Maryland exporter, at up to $5,000 a year. The Purple Line grant reopens on September 29 for shops near the works. Manufacturing 4.0 shut on August 31. Every card says its type and whether it is open.
Which Maryland grants fit your business?
Answer 7 quick questions and we sort the 12 programs on this page into likely fits and long shots. Nothing personal is asked or stored, and final eligibility is always decided by the granting agency.
Maryland Small Business Grant Programs
State-administered funding programs available to Maryland small businesses. Verify deadlines directly with the granting agency before applying.
ExportMD Program
Maryland Department of Commerce
Up to $5,000 per award, once a year
Rolling, applications due the 1st of each monthExportMD provides matching grants of up to $5,000 to reimburse expenses on an international marketing project, including trade show fees, brochures, website work and travel. Applications are due on the 1st of each month. The step that catches people out is an export counselling meeting, which must be scheduled before the deadline, so Commerce advises contacting its office at least two weeks ahead. You must have operated for at least a year, be registered in SAM.gov, be in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, and not have won an ExportMD award in the last year.
Partnership for Workforce Quality (PWQ)
Maryland Department of Commerce
Up to 50% of qualified training costs
RollingMatching training grants that pay back up to 50 percent of the cost of training your existing staff. Commerce wants you to have at least ten full-time employees, and it gives priority to manufacturing and technology firms. At least 60 percent of the money must go to employers with 150 or fewer staff in Maryland. You apply through the Commerce regional representative for your county, not through a portal.
MDOT Purple Line Small Business Grant Program
Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)
Up to $50,000
Deadline Nov 7, 2026Direct grants to small businesses within a quarter mile of Purple Line construction in Prince George's and Montgomery counties, funded at $1 million a year through 2028 across three rounds. Round 2 closed August 28, 2026. Round 3 opens September 29 and closes November 7, with awards announced December 16.
TEDCO Concept Capital
Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO)
$25,000–$50,000
RollingTEDCO's Concept Capital provides convertible notes with founder-friendly terms (zero interest, negotiable valuation caps) to bridge the early-stage funding gap for underrepresented entrepreneurs. Eligible founders include those in rural or disadvantaged communities.
Business Boost Microgrants (Neighborhood BusinessWorks)
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
$20,000–$50,000
Closed, programme no longer offered by DHCDDHCD ran these microgrants for small businesses in designated Sustainable Communities that needed capital for growth or expansion. Applications have closed and no new round is posted. DHCD's business development page now lists mostly loans and Opportunity Zone incentives. Its NourishMD grant is shut too, and has its own card below.
Maryland Manufacturing 4.0 Grant Program
Maryland Department of Commerce
$25,000–$500,000
Deadline Aug 31, 2026This competitive grant program helps small and mid-sized Maryland manufacturers invest in Industry 4.0 technologies, robotics, and digital business practices. Grants cover up to 75% of project costs for small manufacturers (3–50 employees) and 50% for mid-sized manufacturers. FY2026 funding was set at $6 million.
Project Restore 2.0
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
Up to $300,000
ClosedProject Restore 2.0 gave $8 million to Main Streets, Arts and Entertainment Districts and other place based economic development organisations in Sustainable Communities, up to $300,000 each, which those organisations subgranted to businesses filling vacant storefronts. A business never applied to DHCD directly, and the round is finished.
NourishMD Grant Program
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
$25,000–$150,000
Deadline Feb 20, 2026NourishMD provides grants to support the development, stabilization, and expansion of retail outlets that provide fresh food in Maryland's food deserts. Part of the Moore-Miller Administration's $10 million Community Business Compass initiative.
Federal Grant Programs
These federal programs are available to small businesses in every state.
SBA 7(a) Loan Program
The SBA's primary lending program guarantees loans through participating lenders. This is a loan, not a grant. But the terms favor small businesses that may not qualify for conventional financing.
Learn moreSBA Microloan Program
Loans up to $50,000, not grants. You borrow from a nonprofit lender near you, not from the SBA itself. The money can cover working capital, inventory, supplies or equipment. Most people get far less than the cap. The average microloan is about $13,000.
Learn moreSBIR/STTR Grants
Competitive federal grants for small businesses doing research and development with commercial potential. Eleven federal agencies take part. Phase I funds proof of concept. Phase II funds full development.
Learn moreMinority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Programs
Help for minority owned businesses that need capital, contracts or new markets. MBDA runs business centers around the country. They give advice, help with bids, and point you toward lenders.
Learn moreGet Grant-Ready
Before you apply, most Maryland grant programs expect these basics to be in place.
Form your business entity
Most Maryland grant programs require applicants to be a registered LLC, corporation, or nonprofit. If you haven't formed yet, that's the first step.
$39 + state fee. Includes registered agent, business address, and more.
Get your EIN
An Employer Identification Number is free from the IRS and required on nearly every grant application. You can apply online and receive it immediately.
Open a business bank account
Grant funds need to go into a dedicated business account, not your personal checking. Most agencies will ask for your banking details on the application.
Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.
Grants by Business Type
Targeted programs for specific business owners in Maryland.
Women-owned Business Grants
MBE certification from MDOT covers women-owned firms. It is free. TEDCO's Concept Capital names women founders as a target. It pays in convertible notes, not grant money.
- ›MDOT MBE Certification
- ›TEDCO Concept Capital
Minority-owned Business Grants
Maryland tells its agencies to spend 29 percent of contract money with certified MBE firms. That is the biggest lever here. TEDCO's Pre-Seed Fund puts up to $40,000 into minority founders with a tech idea.
- ›MDOT MBE Certification
- ›TEDCO Minority Business Pre-Seed Fund
Veteran-owned Business Grants
Maryland has no veteran grant. MBE certification counts veteran-owned firms toward the state's contract goals. Some counties run their own schemes. Start with the certification.
- ›MDOT MBE Certification
Rural Business Grants
Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore count as rural to the USDA. Its Rural Business Development Grant bars for profit firms. That rules most founders out. TEDCO's Concept Capital names rural founders and puts in $25,000 to $50,000. It is a convertible note, so you may repay it in equity.
- ›TEDCO Concept Capital
- ›USDA Rural Business Development Grant
Technology/Innovation Business Grants
Maryland is strong here. TEDCO runs the Maryland Innovation Initiative. It also matches federal SBIR and STTR awards. Manufacturing 4.0 pays $25,000 to $500,000 for new kit, but its 2026 window shut on August 31.
- ›TEDCO Maryland Innovation Initiative
- ›Maryland Manufacturing 4.0
Tips for Applying in Maryland
Increase your chances of approval with these state-specific tips.
- 1Check you are in good standing with SDAT first. Maryland Business Express shows it in a moment.
- 2For ExportMD, book the export counselling meeting before the 1st. Commerce asks you to call at least two weeks ahead, so a late call costs you the round.
- 3Register for a TEDCO ID once. Every later TEDCO application starts from that account.
- 4Get MBE certification from MDOT if you qualify. It is free. It opens the state's 29 percent contract goal.
- 5Call the Maryland SBDC. The advising is free. Its regional offices will sharpen your plan and your numbers.
State Economic Development Agency
Maryland Department of Commerce
Commerce is Maryland's main economic development agency. It runs the grants, tax credits and financing on this page. DHCD handles the housing and community side.
Funding While You Wait
Grant applications in Maryland can take weeks or months to process. These options can bridge the gap.
Grants in Other States
All state grant guidesFrequently Asked Questions
Yes. ExportMD repays up to $5,000 of international marketing costs, and you apply on the first of any month. The Purple Line grant pays up to $50,000 to businesses near the construction, and round 3 runs September 29 to November 7. Partnership for Workforce Quality repays half the cost of training your staff. Manufacturing 4.0 pays far more, $25,000 to $500,000, but its window shut on August 31.
ExportMD, which reimburses up to $5,000 of international marketing costs and takes applications every month. For manufacturers it was Manufacturing 4.0, at $25,000 to $500,000, but that window shut on August 31. DHCD has closed its Business Boost microgrant and its NourishMD round, and now lists mostly loans, so a Maryland founder after plain grant money has fewer doors than the older guides suggest.
No. Maryland's open grants are for any eligible business, whoever owns it. MBE certification is still worth having. It is free. It opens the state goal of placing 29 percent of contract money with certified firms, which is worth more over time than one grant. Some TEDCO programmes, Concept Capital among them, do favour founders from under-represented groups.
It depends on the programme. ExportMD takes applications on the first of each month, and you can only win one award a year. Book the export counselling meeting two weeks before that deadline or you miss the round. Purple Line round 3 runs September 29 to November 7, with awards on December 16. Manufacturing 4.0 ran one cycle a year and its 2026 window has shut. Plan on four to twelve weeks. Being eligible is not the same as being funded.
About the Author
Senior Finance & Banking Editor
Richard is the veteran anchor of the site's financial content. Raised in the Midwest and starting his career in Chicago's commercial banking sector, he spent over a decade underwriting small business loans before moving into financial journalism. He doesn't get swept up in startup hype; he cares about unit economics, APYs, and fee structures.
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Grant programs change frequently. Deadlines, eligibility requirements, and funding amounts listed here may be outdated. Always verify information directly with the granting agency before applying. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.
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