Kingsville Business Gets State Grant For Mask Making

KINGSVILLE, MD — A Kingsville business has been awarded state grant funding for manufacturing personal protective equipment (PPE) during the coronavirus pandemic.

Spilled Paint Design of Kingsville is among 25 grant recipients through the Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Manufacturing Fund, which has been created to enable businesses to switch over to or expand the production of PPE.

Administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce, the fund grants up to $100,000 for companies to manufacture critically needed items, including face shields, gowns, and N95 mask parts.

The $5 million program was created in response to a growing demand for items to protect health care and front line workers, including face shields, surgical masks, gowns and gloves, as well as items for hospitals, like thermometers, respirators, and ventilators.

The program received more than 200 applications.

"There was an overwhelming response to this program and each and every company that applied for this grant saw a need and wanted to contribute in any way they could," Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz said in a statement. "We are pleased that this program not only helped to support the production of much needed PPE, but also provided companies with funding to keep their employees working during this challenging time."

Here's the full list of grant recipients:

"We are proud to provide support to the dozens of Maryland companies that stepped up during this global pandemic to produce the most critically-needed equipment," Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement. "Our top priority is to protect our essential and front line workers, and having a steady and reliable supply of items that are still in high demand will ensure we can continue to keep them safe."

Patch editors Alessia Grunberger and Kristin Danley-Greiner contributed to this article.