The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Small Business Grant Program provides support to small businesses located along the Purple Line corridor that are impacted by construction.
Donor Name: Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)
State: Maryland
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 11/14/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Program will primarily take the form of direct grants up to $50,000 to eligible small businesses to help offset the impact that construction closures or detours may have on business operations. Program activities and funding may also include marketing funding for businesses along the corridor and other business support. Grant funds must be used for business-related expenses, including payroll/healthcare benefits, contract labor, working capital, business rent or mortgage payments for business property, supplier payments, machinery and equipment, critical operating expenses, and utility payments for business locations. Note that grant payments are considered taxable income.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a grant, a business must meet all of the following requirements:
- Business Status
- Be an existing business in good standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. Documentation that the business is Active and in Good Standing with the State can be obtained from the Maryland Business Express website. A screenshot of the results will suffice, a formal certificate of good standing is not required.
- The business must also be in good standing with all federal and State taxing and licensing authorities. Grant payments are subject to interception by the IRS and/or Maryland Comptroller if outstanding debts are owed to the federal or State government.
- The business must have been open and operational at its current location along the Purple Line alignment prior to July 1, 2023. The business must currently be open to customers.
- Location
- The business must interact directly with customers primarily onsite at a business location that is within one-quarter mile of the existing or future Purple Line Light Rail tracks. Businesses at residential locations are not eligible.
- Small Business
- Must be a small business, defined as one of the following:
- An entity with 50 or fewer employees in the most recently completed fiscal year; AND
- An entity whose annual gross sales did not exceed $2,000,000 in its most recently completed five fiscal years.
- Must be a small business, defined as one of the following:
- Prioritization of Funding
- This is a highly competitive grant program and not all eligible applicants will receive grants. Grant awards to eligible businesses will be prioritized based on the location of the business and its proximity to the most significant construction impacts in the previous six months or anticipated for the next six months. Grant amounts will vary based on business size and location. All grant award decisions are final.
For more information, visit MDOT.
