Economic Development Offices
City of Annapolis Economic Development
Anne Arundel Economic Development
U.S. Small Business Administration
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For Artists and Musicians
The Amber Grant for Women-owned Small Businesses Grants for women owned businesses given out monthly. Visit there website here for more information or to apply.
The Coalition to Back Black Businesses is a multiyear grantmaking and training initiative.
Gospel Music Trust Fund Individuals who’ve worked for 10+ years in the gospel music field (full-time) can submit a request for financial assistance, which grants funding in the event of an emergency or major catastrophe, terminal or severe illness.
Craft Emergency Relief Fund For United States-based craft artists looking for emergency funds. You must have been involved in craft-making (there's a definition of "craft making" on the site) for at least three years before your emergency and you must be making a majority of your income from your art. Visit the site to learn more about eligibility to apply to this fund.
PEN American Writer's Emergency Fund This fund is for professional (published or produced) writers and editors who are in an acute financial crisis.
Annapolis Musician Fund for Musicians Temporary support for local musicians.
Foundation of Contemporary Arts Artist Relief Fund This fund is open to U.S.-based artists who've fallen on hard times.
Musicians Foundation Fund United States-based musicians who've been active for the past five years are eligible to apply for a microgrant. Keep in mind, this fund also asks for paperwork proving that most of your income has come from your work as a musician.
Any American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) member in good standing is entitled and encouraged to apply for financial assistance through the AGMA Relief Fund.
Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant is for painters, printmakers, and sculptors who have been creating mature art for at least 10 years, and have recently undergone an unforeseen catastrophic event such as a fire, flood, or medical emergency.
Resources for writers (contests, grants, and publishers seeking authors) Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity (publishedtodeath.blogspot.com)
Non-traditional Funding
Maryland Financial Incentives for Business - a database of state-managed grants, loans, and tax credits for Maryland businesses.
VOLT Fund for small and minority, women and veteran-owned businesses in Maryland. Loans are between $25,000 to $500,000 for purposes such as business and commercial real estate acquisition and expansion, leasehold improvements, equipment, and working capital.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program PACE, allows property owners to make making energy-efficient upgrades to your building with no money down.
Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation’s Workforce Training Grant A matching grant program for on-the-job training, classroom/offsite training, purchasing training software, and train-the-trainer scenarios. Though designed primarily to train employees of companies that are expanding or plan to relocate to Anne Arundel County, they will consider other types of employee training for the program.
Fast Break for Small Business, Accion Opportunity Fund (which specializes in money lending to small businesses owned by women, immigrants and people of color), LegalZoom, the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G-League have joined forces to provide entrepreneurs with a $10,000 grant and a LegalZoom product of their choosing, valued up to $500 to support their small businesses. Applications close September 13, 2024.
Kiva, an organization that offers 0% interest loans to entrepreneurs in the U.S.
Maryland Capital Enterprises, Inc (MCE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that specializes in supporting microenterprise and small business needs on Maryland's Eastern Shore and in the Annapolis - Baltimore area. Founded in 1998, MCE serves low-income and underserved entrepreneurs with business assistance, technical assistance, business training and loans. Loan limits are $5,000 to $50,000 for microloans and $5,000 to $150,000 for small business loans. MCE was certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
LGBTQ+ business grant and resource links A list of resources and grants that is targeted for LGBTQ+ business owners.
The TRANSFORM Business Grant offers growth-focused wealth redistribution grants of $1,000 to anticapitalist businesses led by social impact focused individuals. In addition to funding, grantees participate in a customized year-long growth-based mentorship program, which includes access to pro bono services from a roster of experts in branding, coaching, skill-based learning, marketing, and more. The grant is designed to support individuals in systemically marginalized groups who are making social impact and demonstrate financial need. This includes, but is not limited to, BIPOC individuals, individuals who have a disability, formerly incarcerated individuals, and queer, trans, and nonbinary folks.
Historic Preservation Grants/Programs
The Arundel Community Reinvestment (ACR) Fund is available for downtown Annapolis and West Street businesses from Church Circle to Chinquapin Round. Loans up to $100,000 at zero percent interest for improvements, renovation and upgrades to building exteriors and site improvements, including landscaping. If exterior improvements exceed $60,000, the applicant may include up to $40,000 in interior improvements. In addition to financial assistance, the program includes professional architectural services provided by a full-service architectural firm with experience in commercial revitalization.
Installation of Fire Sprinkler System Tax Credit Application In accordance with Section 6.04.130 of the City Code, a taxpayer may receive a one-time, property tax credit against the general City property tax for an existing residential structure he or she owns in which a fire sprinkler system is legally required to be installed on or after July 1, 2009.
Sacred Places expertise and capital grants up to $250,000 to help congregations restore and preserve historic places of worship. (Applications typically due in April).
African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund the largest preservation campaign ever undertaken on behalf of African American history.
Grants.gov is a database of grants from a wide variety of sources. It is not uncommon for them to have preservation grants for properties with public access