RELIEF Act Business Programs Details

The Maryland Department of Commerce has additional details about the new economic relief funding made available through the bipartisan RELIEF Act of 2021. This information is also available on the Commerce website.

Commerce will provide funding through six new programs targeting specific groups of businesses. Three of these programs will be administered by Commerce, which expects to accept applications from March 30, 2021 to April 6, 2021.

Programs Administered through Commerce

Small Business COVID RELIEF Grant Program 

To support Maryland’s small businesses that face continued financial impacts from the Coronavirus, the state established the new Maryland Small Business Covid RELIEF Grant Program in 2021, through bipartisan legislation, with $10 million in state Relief Act funding.

Small, Minority and Women Owned Business Administration COVID RELIEF Program

To support Maryland’s small businesses that face continued financial impacts from the Coronavirus, the state established the Maryland Small, Minority and Women-Owned Business Administration COVID RELIEF Program in 2021, through bipartisan legislation, with $10 million in state Relief Act funding.

Commuter and Shuttle Bus COVID RELIEF Grant Program 

To support Maryland commuter and shuttle bus companies facing continued financial impacts from the Coronavirus, the state established the Maryland Commuter and Shuttle Bus COVID RELIEF Grant Program in 2021, through bipartisan legislation, with $8 million in state Relief Act funding. The grant is directed to those companies that were impacted by reduction of routes by the Maryland Transit Administration.

A note on funding for all Commerce-Administered COVID RELIEF Programs: Funding is extremely limited and may ultimately result in approval on a first-come, first-served basis. The application process will be open for a limited period, and Commerce anticipates substantial interest in these programs. We encourage you to apply as soon as applications become available.

Programs Administered Through Counties and Baltimore City

The following programs will be administered by each county and Baltimore City.
As available, links to county websites with details for applying for these programs will be posted to the Maryland COVID-19 Information for Business website (under “local programs”).

Online Sales and Telework Assistance COVID RELIEF Grant Program

To support Maryland small businesses seeking to expand online sales and teleworking capabilities for their employees due to the continued financial impacts from the novel coronavirus, the the state established through bipartisan legislation the Maryland Online Sales and Telework Assistance  COVID RELIEF Grant Program with $500,000 million in state Relief Act funding. Applications will be available through each county and Baltimore City.

Restaurant and Caterers COVID RELIEF Grant Program

To support Maryland restaurants facing continued financial impacts from the novel coronavirus, the state established through bipartisan legislation the Maryland Restaurants and Caterers COVID Relief Grant Program. Commerce is providing $22 million to the local jurisdictions to provide relief for economically disadvantaged restaurants in their areas.  Applications will be available through each county and Baltimore City.

Lodging and Accommodations COVID RELIEF Grant Program

To support Maryland hotel, lodging and accommodation businesses  facing continued financial impacts from the novel coronavirus, the state established through bipartisan legislation the Maryland Lodging and Accommodations COVID Relief Grant Program. Commerce is providing $10 million to the local jurisdictions to provide relief for economically disadvantaged lodging and accommodation businesses in their areas.  Applications will be available through each county and Baltimore City.