If you are looking for potential grant opportunities for your business, check out our list below. Grants are categorized by type, offering a high-level overview of details such as eligibility requirements, designated purposes, and more. Please click on the grant name to find out more information about the grant or to apply.
Please note: The list provided is not exhaustive and there may be additional grant opportunities available for businesses. It is essential for business owners to conduct further research to determine their eligibility for any specific grants.
Etsy sellers may be eligible for relief funding thanks to CERF+, a nonprofit organization that provides support and preparation resources to artists during emergencies and disasters. This program grants up to $2,500 to Etsy sellers who have been through a natural disaster.
The HerRise Micro-Grant provides financial assistance, with the help of our corporate sponsors and donors, to Women of Color creating innovative solutions that impact their community and that are often unable to secure funding for their small business. Each month a $1,000 micro-grant will be awarded to a small business owner. Small business grants are useful for financing a particular small business need. Past recipients used their growth grants for computers, equipment, marketing materials, software purchase, website creation and more.
$1,000
The HerRise Micro-Grant provides financial assistance, with the help of our corporate sponsors and donors, to women of color creating innovative solutions that impact their community and that are often unable to secure funding for their small business.
As an angel investment group, Hivers and Strivers works to provide capital to qualifying businesses. Specifically, the investment group funds projects submitted by veteran-owned and veteran-led businesses.
Veteran Owned/Led Business in the early stage with opportunities for significant growth seeking initial investment of $200-$500K. Not investing in lifestyle businesses, franchises, trucking companies, or companies reliant on government contracts, etc.
Applicants must be at least 21 years of age at the time of application. Applicants must be a veteran, Reservist, National Guardsman, or transitioning active-duty Military Member of any of the United States Armed Forces, the spouse of a Military Member, or the surviving spouse or child of a Military Member who died on active duty (i.e., a “Gold Star” family member). Applicants must be low-income and otherwise lack the financial means to start, or grow, an early-stage business or nonprofit.
Must first register on the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready portal. Must complete at least two of the following in the Digital Ready program, in any combination: courses, live coaching or community events.
Based on available resources at any given time, Warrior Rising strives to accept and assist veterans at any point in the process of starting their own business, whether it is only a concept or if they have actual operations. This is not a grant-by-application process. Applicants will be required to pitch their business to secure funding.
There are no specific requirements on how to allocate the funds. However, it is encouraged that you put the money toward keeping your workforce employed, pay rent, operation, and inventory costs, connect to other customers, and provide opportunities to your community.
$500 - $2,000
Black-owned business, with 20 or fewer employees, and brick - and mortar shop in the US. Store must earn an average revenue of under $1 million dollars.
The Cannabis Business Assistance Loan/Grant Fund (CBAF) is operated by the Maryland Department of Commerce to provide grants and loans for small businesses, including small, minority-owned and small women-owned businesses entering the adult-use cannabis industry.
Structured as a Conditional Grant, eligible applicants may apply for grant disbursements in four (4) tranches with a maximum amount for each license type.
The ExportMD Program helps to offset some of the costs of marketing internationally for Maryland's small and mid-sized companies.
$5,000 reimbursement
Must have business operations in Maryland and be in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation
Applicants must be a small business planning an international business initiative to commence and conclude within six months of the application deadline.
MEAF provides loans of up to $150,000 for small and underserved businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
MEAF enables small businesses to upgrade or modernize operations, develop or expand commercial applications for technology or enter into and compete in new or different markets.
Eligible businesses include manufacturers, wholesalers, retail, technology firms, service companies and skilled trades.
Funds can be used for working capital, equipment, building renovation, real estate acquisition and site improvements. Funding assistance through MEAF is available to small businesses in all regions of the state.
Grant application will run until all funds are disbursed.
Grants of $15,000.00 will be made available to small Maryland manufacturers to adopt new energy efficient technologies that will increase energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and enable lasting improvements.
Administered by UMBC and funded by the State of Maryland, the program offers financial assistance to technology-based businesses, as well as 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 and up to $3,000 annually per intern ($1,800 for the first semester and $1,200 for subsequent semesters).
Internship funding is available to Maryland technology-based businesses and state and local agencies offering paid internships.
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.
Seed Funds are invested in companies that show promise of becoming venture-fundable companies or are companies that, through a seed investment, will be sustainable through customer revenue, follow-on funding, or other forms of the corporate venture.
Rolling applications
Specific Seed Investment Funds are available- Technology Commercialization Fund, Technology Fund, Life Science Fund, and Gap Fund
Early Stage MD Technology companies - For companies applying for their first investment from Builder, all companies must have started operations within five years from the date of the application and investment.
Pre-seed technology start-ups from all industries. However, to be applicable, a company must meet all of the following qualifications: Principal place of business is in Maryland, At least one full-time employee, No less than 50% of founders demonstrate economic disadvantage
Calvert County is committed to reinvesting in communities impacted by cannabis prohibition. The Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund provides financial support for programs that address inequities and build stronger, healthier communities. Funding is intended to support initiatives that directly benefit residents of Lusby and Prince Frederick, the two communities eligible for funding under state statute.
Online Training: Tuesday, October 21 at 2 pm - Virtual
Application Deadline: Friday, Nov. 7, 2025
Award Decision Notifications: Mid-December
Period of Performance: Jan. 1, 2026 – Dec. 31, 2026
Research may be in the broad areas of engineering, computer science, physical sciences and life sciences. Projects may also help a company plan and develop industrial training programs for its employees.
The maximum MIPS award for any single project is $100,000 per year for large and small companies and $90,000 for start-up firms.
Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) promotes the development and commercialization of products and processes through industry/university research partnerships. MIPS provides matching funds to help Maryland companies pay for university research. Projects are initiated by the companies to meet their own research and development goals.