Small Business Grants in Maryland
Maryland's proximity to Washington DC, its world-class research institutions, and its diverse economy make it a prime location for small businesses seeking grants. The state has particular strength in biotechnology, cybersecurity, defense contracting, and healthcare — sectors where federal grant funding is abundant. Maryland's grant landscape is among the richest in the country when you combine state programs with the federal opportunities concentrated in the DC corridor.
Economic Overview
Maryland has approximately 590,000 small businesses employing over 1.1 million workers. The economy is anchored by federal government contracting, biotechnology and life sciences (concentrated around the NIH in Bethesda and Johns Hopkins in Baltimore), cybersecurity, defense, healthcare, and financial services. Maryland has one of the most educated workforces in the nation and offers proximity to the federal agencies that fund billions in grants annually.
State Grant Programs
The Maryland Department of Commerce offers numerous programs including the Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII) for technology commercialization, the Biotechnology Tax Credit, the Cybersecurity Tax Credit, and various workforce training grants. TEDCO (the Maryland Technology Development Corporation) provides equity-free grants and investments to early-stage technology companies. The Maryland SBDC has offices across the state. The Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program funds university-industry research collaborations. Baltimore and Montgomery County both run active local grant programs.
How to Apply
Visit the Maryland Department of Commerce and TEDCO websites. If you are in tech, biotech, or cyber, Maryland's specialized tax credits and TEDCO programs should be priorities. Contact the Maryland SBDC for free advising. For federal grants, your proximity to DC agencies is a significant advantage — consider attending government contracting events. Register at SAM.gov.
Featured Opportunities65 Active
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
Maryland Small Business Grant Program
Award Amount
$25,000 - $200,000
TEDCO Seed/Pre-Seed Funding
Award Amount
$4,000 - $4,000
NASE Growth Grant
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
Amber Grant for Women
Award Amount
$275,000 - $305,000
NSF SBIR Phase I (America's Seed Fund)
Award Amount
$10,000 - $500,000
USDA Rural Business Development Grants
Award Amount
$1,000 - $10,000
Skip Monthly Business Grants
Award Amount
$5,000 - $25,000
IFundWomen Universal Grant Application
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
Venmo Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$50,000 - $275,000
DOD SBIR Phase I
Award Amount
$150,000 - $293,297
NIH SBIR/STTR Phase I
Award Amount
$50,000 - $200,000
DOE SBIR/STTR Phase I
Award Amount
$50,000 - $100,000
EPA SBIR Phase I
Award Amount
$75,000 - $750,000
USDA Value-Added Producer Grant
Award Amount
$2,500 - $1,000,000
USDA Rural Energy for America (REAP)
Award Amount
$600,000 - $5,000,000
EDA Public Works Program
Award Amount
$150,000 - $2,500,000
EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance
Award Amount
$250,000 - $2,000,000
EDA Build to Scale (Venture Challenge)
Award Amount
$75,000 - $150,000
SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition
Award Amount
$50,000 - $4,500,000
SBA HUBZone Program
Award Amount
$50,000 - $4,500,000
SBA 8(a) Business Development Program
Award Amount
$50,000 - $4,500,000
SBA Women-Owned Small Business Contracting
Award Amount
$5,000 - $25,000
Hello Alice Small Business Growth Fund
Award Amount
$20,000 - $20,000
Allstate Main Street Grants (Hello Alice)
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
Fund Her Future Grant (H&R Block)
Award Amount
$1,000 - $15,000
Kiva 0% Interest Microloans
Award Amount
$15,000 - $25,000
Amazon Business Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$2,000 - $350,000
Google for Startups Cloud Program
Award Amount
$20,000 - $20,000
Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Hero
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
Ladies Who Launch Program
Award Amount
$500 - $2,500
Freed Fellowship Grant
Award Amount
$25,000 - $100,000
MassChallenge Accelerator (Equity-Free)
Award Amount
$1,000 - $5,000
Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Fund
Award Amount
$30,000 - $100,000
Cartier Women's Initiative (2027 Cycle)
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
EmpowHer Grant
Award Amount
$7,500 - $7,500
Halstead Grant for Jewelry Designers
Award Amount
$15,000 - $15,000
Girlboss Foundation Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $5,000
Red Backpack Fund (Spanx Foundation)
Award Amount
$5,000 - $5,000
Tory Burch Foundation Fellows
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
NAWBO / Mastercard Small Business Grants
Award Amount
$2,000 - $5,000
Second Service Foundation Veteran Awards
Award Amount
$10,000 - $25,000
Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $50,000
PenFed Foundation Veteran Entrepreneur Program
Award Amount
$25,000 - $25,000
NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant
Award Amount
$25,000 - $25,000
NAACP x L'Oreal Beauty Industry Grants
Award Amount
$10,000 - $20,000
Fearless Strivers Grant (Fearless Fund + Mastercard)
Award Amount
$1,500 - $5,000
First Nations Acorn Fund
Award Amount
$10,000 - $40,000
First Nations Native Food Sovereignty Grant
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
NBMBAA Scale-Up Pitch Challenge
Award Amount
$5,000 - $10,000
SoGal Foundation Black Founder Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $5,000
DigitalUndivided Breakthrough Program
Award Amount
$5,000 - $10,000
NDI Small Business Hub (Disability Entrepreneurs)
Award Amount
$5,000 - $25,000
NAACP x BACARDI Backing the B.A.R.
Award Amount
$25,000 - $25,000
NAACP Power Forward Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $15,000
USHCC / Wells Fargo Hispanic Business Grants
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Maryland uniquely good for grant funding?▼
Maryland's proximity to federal agencies, concentration of research institutions (NIH, Johns Hopkins, NIST), and state programs like TEDCO and the Maryland Innovation Initiative create one of the richest grant environments in the country, especially for technology, biotech, and cybersecurity companies.
Grants by Group in Maryland
Grants by Industry in Maryland
Funding Guides for Maryland Businesses
Small Business Grants for Women in 2026: The Complete Guide
Small Business Grants vs. Loans: Which Is Right for You?
How to Write a Small Business Grant Application That Actually Wins
Best Small Business Loans in 2026: Compare Top Lenders
Filter by City in Maryland
Don't see a perfect match?
Most businesses rely on lines of credit rather than grants. Check your eligibility for up to $250k in fast funding.
Check Funding EligibilityNever Miss a Grant Deadline
Get free weekly grant alerts delivered to your inbox