Howard County Executive Calvin Ball last week announced the third round of HoCo RISE Business Grants, which includes $5.1 million for small local businesses, restaurants, and hotels. The funding includes $2 million in County funds for businesses, $1.5 million in state funds for restaurants, and $1.6 million in state funds for hotels.
“Over the past 11 months we’ve seen our business community adapt, shift on a dime, and work through the challenges of this pandemic,” said County Executive Ball. “But amid nearly a year of uncertainty, and an unpredictable future, our business community has been through the wringer. Since July, we have provided more than $13.5 million in CARES Act Funding to our restaurants, small-retailers, farms, hotels, live venues, and childcare providers – but we’re not stopping there. Today, we’re announcing more than $5 million in additional grants to support our small businesses, hotels, and restaurants.”
According to a County press release:
In this third round of HoCo RISE Business Grants, Howard County is targeting our businesses that did not previously receive a grant. For local small businesses, the County is providing $5,000 grants, including to home-based businesses in Howard County. Restaurants who have not received a grant before will be eligible for a $13,500 grant. Local hotels are eligible for a grant, even if they’ve received one before. Full details and applications are available online at wwww.hceda.org/c19grants. The applications process will be open until 11:59 p.m. on February 25, 2021.
“We are grateful that the HoCo RISE initiative is once again providing the assistance our community needs,” said Larry Twele, CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority. “This pandemic has extended much longer than we could have anticipated, and we appreciate the continued support from the state and county for our local small businesses.”