Project Restore awards $1.5M in grants to area businesses

Seventeen Allegany County businesses will receive nearly $1.5 million in grant funding through a state economic recovery initiative that provides financial incentives for small businesses to revitalize vacant retail and commercial space. In all, 376 businesses in all 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City will receive $24.5 million through the Project Restore program, including $8.8 million in property assistance grants and $15.7 million in business operations funding. “Project Restore has been an incredible success in advancing our mission to make Maryland Open For Business …” Gov. Larry Hogan said in a news release announcing the awards. “We’re now able to extend the initiative’s impact even further across the state — with just over 80% of this round of grants going to minority-owned businesses — supporting jobs and economic recovery for years to come.”