44 Baltimore-Area Entrepreneurs Receive $20,000 in COVID-19 Grant Support

Tedrick Bonds is the owner of House of Music Education in Bowie, MD. House of Music Education is a Small Business Grants recipient.
Businesses will be able to apply for grants during one more application period in 2021: Sept. 1 – Oct. 13.
Kathryn
Forrest

BALTIMORE – Forty-four small businesses received grants totalling $880,000 during the second round of BGE's Energizing Small Business Grants program, one of a number of grant programs undertaken by the Global Entrepreneurship Network, Hello Alice and BGE to provide direct support to entrepreneurs impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and other significant challenges.

This program is part of a multi-year commitment that provides $20,000 grants  to small business owners. All applicants gain access to the Global Entrepreneurship Network and to Hello Alice's free COVID-19 Business Resource Center.

Five recipients also make up the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore's inaugural class of its Black-Owned and Occupied Storefront Tenancy (BOOST) program, which is designed to attract and support Black-owned retail businesses in Downtown Baltimore neighborhoods. These businesses will receive financial and technical support to open a retail location at a storefront pre-identified by the Downtown Partnership. This partnership is an innovative community-driven approach to strengthen Maryland's small business community. Read more about the BOOST businesses here.

Of the 44 recipients (see below for the full list), 27% are in the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry, 14% in consumer goods and retail, 14% in social enterprise and education, and 11% in food and restaurants. A majority of the grants went to businesses owned by historically marginalized groups, more than 75% went to women-owned businesses, and more than one-quarter of business owners are affiliated with the military.

"(This grant) will help our company take the leap from small scale commerce, to creating sensory products that are impactful and supportive to the needs of families of autistic children. Through this work we can promote neurodiversity, connect people with necessary resources and initiate change," said Nicole Stokes-Harris, grant recipient and owner of Towson-based HGE Designs.

Applications for Round 3 of the program will open on September 1, 2021.

Meet the Round 2 Recipients

Advanced Productions

Lisa Brown | Hanover, MD

Anointed Candle

Cherise Gaines | Jessup, MD

Arch Social Club

John Harris | Baltimore, MD

ArtFarm Studios

Alison Harbaugh | Annapolis, MD

Aviva Divine

Helen Ozah | Baltimore, MD

Better World Imaginarium

Lisa Swayhoover | Catonsville, MD

Bottoms Up Bagels

Michelle Bond | Baltimore, MD

Charis Center for the Arts

Emma Hadley | Lanham, MD

Chesapeake Acupuncture & Healing Arts

Lauren McNeal | Annapolis, MD

Codetta Bake Shop

Sumayyah Bilal | Baltimore, MD

Current Space

Michael Benevento | Baltimore, MD

Curry Printing

Paula Fargo | Baltimore, MD

Elite Secrets Bridal

Latonya Turnage | Perry Hall, MD

Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Park

Edward Jenkins | Middle River, MD

Fearless Yaya

Sandra Diaz | Columbia, MD

Fine Point Stay-N-Play

Miriam Ray | Baltimore, MD

Grace Ambulance Services

Mirabelle Tambe | Baltimore, MD

HGE Designs

Nicole Stokes-Harris | Baltimore, MD

JumpBunch

Christina Dugan | Elkridge, MD

Holabird Early Learning Center

Charlonda James | Baltimore, MD

House of Music Education

Tedrick Bonds | Bowie, MD

Intuitive Business Concepts

Jodi Sawyer | Annapolis, MD

KC Dance & Fitness

Kristin Celano | Baltimore, MD

Tutor Doctor Essex

Simeon Sanders | Essex, MD

Lacy’s Professional Nursing Services

Deborah Lacy | Baltimore, MD

M Code Luxury Apparel

Milanka Code | Glenn Dale, MD

Media Rhythm Institute

Deverick Murray | Baltimore, MD

Blu Ocean Products

James Rowe | Odenton, MD

NKVSKIN

Nikia Vaughan | Baltimore, MD

Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services of Westminster-Eldersburg

Kimberly Burckhardt | Woodbine, MD

Party Girl Entertainment

Amy Reid | Baltimore, MD

Pinnacle Communications Resource Company

Tracey Haldeman | Baltimore, MD

Prof AP LLC (Huntington Learning Center)

Anand Patel | Gambrills, MD

Safari Nativ

Betty Osias | Cockeysville, MD

Sandra Chaney Enterprises

Sandra Chaney | Annapolis, MD

Dutch Corner Restaurant

Susan L Rill | Manchester, MD

The Cold Penguin

Carol Naddell | North Beach, MD

Taco Town

Warner Lopez | Baltimore, MD

The Baltimore Times

Jocelyn (Joy) Bramble | Baltimore, MD

The Black Genius Art Show

Bryan Robinson | Baltimore, MD

Tree of Life Early Learning Center

Gabrielle Douglas | Laurel, MD

University of the Virgin Isalnds International Program

Angela Garnett | Upper Marlboro, MD

Wildlife Adventures

Valerie Garcia | Jarrettsville, MD

X Is Possible

Erica Roberts | Bowie, MD