Business

After a year spent staring at the same four walls of the home office, where the biggest trip on the agenda was running errands at the grocery store, many of us are ready to head out of town. Somewhere, anywhere. As more people get vaccinated, travel restrictions lift and Covid-19 infections fall, Americans are increasingly feeling ready to book a getaway.

The Small Business Administration’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund has more than $75 billion in applications and only $28.6 billion in funding — but help could be on the way. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., chairman of the Senate’s small Business Committee, said in a hearing Wednesday featuring SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman that the Senate’s leadership is mulling over fresh legislation for the program, including more funding. The grant program has received more than 362,000 applications since opening earlier in May.

The sleek design at Watershed, Atlas Restaurant Group’s newest Baltimore property, is a departure from the no-frills, neon-bathed atmosphere of Nick’s Seafood, the local favorite that used to anchor the west entrance of the historic Cross Street Market. Watershed, which opens to the public Friday, has an airier feel, with brick walls painted white, glossy floors, light wood benches and a blue-tiled, marbled white bartop running down the center of the restaurant space.

Michele’s Granola’s pandemic-era growth spurt will continue with a major expansion to the company’s Timonium production facility. The Baltimore County-based organic granola and muesli maker announced plans this week to more than double the size of its office and warehouse space. Michele’s, which currently uses about 10,500 square feet at 1940 Greenspring Drive, will take over suites adjacent to the facility over the next nine months. The expansion will bring the company’s footprint to 24,000 square feet.

A casino proposal led by Silver Spring media company Urban One Inc. (NASDAQ: UONE) is Richmond’s preferred choice for a new gaming venue. Virginia’s capital city said Thursday a panel had selected the $600 million One Casino + Resort pitch as its final selection, edging out a bid from Baltimore developer and entertainment operator tThe Cordish Cos. — the company behind the Live! Casino brand.

Columbia email delivery firm SparkPost has announced its second acquisition of the year, weeks after disclosing it will be acquired itself for $600 million. SparkPost has bought Taxi for Email, a London-based email design platform, for an undisclosed sum. The deal will allow SparkPost, which delivers about 40% of the world’s commercial email, to offer its customers the ability to better plan, execute and optimize their email marketing campaigns.

Every year bankers look forward to regional economist Anirban Basu’s joke-filled, fantasy-themed forecast at the Maryland Bankers Association’s annual “First Friday Economic Outlook Forum.” Now they’ll get to hear his jokes (and insights about the economy) even more often. The Maryland Bankers Association announced Tuesday it has appointed Basu as its chief economist. Basu, CEO of Sage Policy Group, said he is taking on the role through a contract with the MBA.

Colonial Pipeline, the main Gulf Coast-East Coast artery for gasoline and other petroleum products, ran into a new computer snag Tuesday as it was still recovering from a shutdown that started May 7 after a ransomware attack. The company said the latest problem, which interrupted the system used by shippers to place requests for service, called nominations, was not a continuation of the cyberware attack that sparked panic-buying by frustrated motorists across the Southeast last week.