MD Businesses Find Hope In Grants, Vaccine Planning

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Winter is usually the slowest season for small businesses in Maryland. This year, the coronavirus pandemic has made it even more challenging to work through the cold months.

Small businesses have spent the extra time applying for grants and drafting vaccine plans. Though it's time-consuming, many owners have won major funding. Local entrepreneurs remain hopeful that the vaccine will soon restore some normalcy to the economy.

Patch recently partnered with several local organizations to bring you their latest news. This week's guest contribution comes from the Downtown Annapolis Partnership. Here's what Executive Director Erik Evans wrote about grants and vaccines:

"January is a month for reflection on the past year and planning for a new year. Typically for downtown Annapolis businesses this means taking inventory, clearance sales, ordering spring merchandise, paying taxes, hosting parties for the state legislators, football playoff parties, and after the holiday’s corporate parties. This year all the parties have been canceled and most public interaction with the Statehouse is virtual. This means downtown businesses are again having to adjust their business plan.

Many businesses are applying for the second round of PPP money as those applications have just opened. They are also looking for additional business grants to get through the slow winter season. There is a wide range of grants out there for businesses this month. Some of the current businesses grant opportunities include the BGE Small Business Grant, the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, SCORE grants, Small Business Administration grants, the National Association for the Self-Employed grants. There is also a wide range of grant opportunities on the Grant Watch database. Applying for grants takes a lot of time and there are no guarantees you will be selected. But for those that do apply the extra funds do provide some needed relief during the slower winter months.

Some recent grant opportunities have helped local businesses. The Arts Council of Anne Arundel County recently awarded grants to 77 local independent artists and 54 local arts organizations. Recent state grants have helped 12 Annapolis entertainment venues, and 2 Annapolis tourism destinations. The second round of Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation restaurant grants just closed and is funding hundreds of local restaurants.

Governor Hogan recently announced plans for a Maryland Small Business Emergency Grant Fund and the Downtown Annapolis Partnership is hoping to soon receive funds from the State of Maryland for a Downtown Annapolis Partnership Main Street Program grant that could bring additional help to local businesses.

This winter is also a time for businesses to take online business classes and webinars to help them continue to pivot their business. Popular subjects include marketing, social media, cybersecurity, and how to apply for PPP funds.

With the release of the COVID vaccine, local businesses will be developing COVID vaccine guidelines for employees. This is a multi-step process that many times requires outside legal consultants to verify the business is making the right decision for its industry. The steps for a vaccine strategy could include several steps.

First is a survey which can be anonymous of staff to see what percentage of employees plan on getting the vaccine. The second is to determine if the company wants to encourage or require staff to get the vaccine. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission gives guidance on this decision. The third is sharing information on where employees can sign up for the vaccine and get questions answered. It is important if sharing vaccine information to pick trusted sources for this information. Resources could include the CDC, local health departments, and hospitals.

Fourth depending on the percentage of employees that plan to get the vaccine business will determine if incentivizing their employees with paid time off and other incentives are needed to encourage voluntary COVID vaccinations to increase vaccine participation rates. The higher the percentage of staff that is vaccinated the less likely there will be COVID-related business interruptions and a safer work environment is created.

Lastly, businesses will continually hear employee feedback and should monitor the EEOC, State and County Health Departments, and the CDC for updated guidance. What is learned in this step may require the business to update or change its COVID plan. These additional tasks are being undertaken by small business owners on top of the daily tasks of running a business during COVID.

"The business community looks forward to when everyone can safely enjoy life with less COVID restrictions," says Erik Evans, "In the meantime they thank everyone that has and continues to support their favorite local small businesses."

The Downtown Annapolis Partnership’s website has a list of many of the local downtown Annapolis businesses to help you support local businesses in person, online, by phone, carryout, or delivery.

Erik Evans
Executive Director
Downtown Annapolis Partnership"

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