Anne Arundel Awards $5K Grants to Businesses Devastated by Tornado

Five hard-hit Anne Arundel County businesses receive grants to recover from the tropical storm and tornado that struck the region on Wednesday, September 1.

Tornado damage in Annapolis, Maryland (photo courtesy of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation)

As previously reported on Conduit Street, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) last month launched the Disaster Recovery Micro Grant Program (DRMGP) to help businesses recover from the tropical storm and tornado that struck the region on Wednesday, September 1.

Funded with $25,000 from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, the program is providing five of the hardest hit businesses with $5,000 grants for physical property repairs, replacement of business equipment, replacement of inventory, lease/rental support, vendor bill support, moving costs, and more.

According to an AAEDC press release:

The following four businesses and one nonprofit each received $5,000 – the maximum grant amount they were eligible to receive:

Annapolis International Market, a multicultural grocery store that had only opened in January 2021.

Chris’s Charcoal Pit, a Greek restaurant that’s been in business for over 30 years.

Cricket Wireless

Panther Auto Body, owned and operated by a graduate of Annapolis High School.

Cecil Memorial United Methodist Church, where Annapolis residents have worshipped for nearly 100 years.

The grants, which will not need to be paid back, can be used for any legitimate business expense including physical property repairs, replacement of business equipment, replacement of inventory, lease/rental support, vendor bill support, or moving expenses support.

“We are so thankful for this grant,” said Mary Sellers, who owns Panther Auto Body with her husband, Pete. “Every little bit helps. We have spent so much fixing up our business, and we just want to say thank you so much.”