Deadline Extended For HoCo RISE Business Grants

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The deadline has been extended for the HoCo RISE business grants to June 30. The storefront retail grant now has an expanded list of eligible businesses that includes other types of storefront service providers that were forced to close or operate at limited capacity. This includes, but is not limited to, fitness facilities, fine art studios, dry cleaners and other service providers. Grants are expected to be distributed by mid-July.

“As our process has evolved, we’re pleased that we’re able to extend this grant opportunity to more Howard County businesses to assist them with responding to the pandemic,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball in a statement. “As we adjust to our new normal, there will be additional costs of doing business to keep employees and customers safe. These grants address immediate needs and ensure businesses have the funds, resources, and support to adapt to these changes.”

Further grant eligibility expansions include:

· Farmers are not required to have an activity code in their tax documentation;

· Bar-restaurants classified as drinking places by their activity code may now apply for the restaurant grant;

· The business formation date requirement has been changed from June 1, 2019, or earlier, to Dec. 31, 2019, or earlier; and

· Qualifying locally-owned franchisees are now eligible to receive a grant for one of their Howard County franchise locations.

The expanded business activity eligibility list is accessible here: http://www.hceda.org/wp-content/uploads/Business-Activity-Code-Identification-and-Grant-Requirements.pdf

“The goal of these grant programs has always been to provide assistance to those businesses most impacted by COVID-19,” said Larry Twele, CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority. “We now have an opportunity to widen the scope of this assistance and help an even greater variety of businesses as they cope with the challenges they face in reopening and reequipping.’

All HoCo RISE business grant updates can be found at www.hceda.org/c19grants.