$5.1M In RISE Grants Available To Howard County Businesses

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A third round of HOCo RISE business grants totaling $5.1 million has been opened up for small local businesses, restaurants and hotels, most who have not yet received a grant. The funding includes $2 million in county funds for businesses, $1.5 million from the state for restaurants and $1.6 million from the state for hotels.

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, county officials noted. Applications are available online at wwww.hceda.org/c19grants. The application process will be open until 11:59 p.m. Feb. 25.

“Over the past 11 months we’ve seen our business community adapt, shift on a dime, and work through the challenges of this pandemic,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said in a statement. “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.”