July 14, 2020
Media Contact:
Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – County Executive Calvin Ball will announce the recipients of the first round of HoCo RISE Business Relief Grants on Wednesday, July 15th at 11 a.m. at Savage Mill. Howard County allocated $5.7 million towards the grant program to provide financial assistance to businesses in targeted sectors that have been most impacted by COVID-19 and plan to re-open.
“Our goal was to rapidly provide critical funds to local businesses who were the most impacted by pandemic mitigation efforts,” said Ball. “These grants address immediate needs and ensure businesses have the funds, resources, and support to adapt to safety and regulation changes. We’re incredibly grateful to the Howard County Economic Development Authority for reviewing applications and ensuring that these grants reached business owners as quickly as possible.”
The business grants include:
- A Storefront Retail Assistance Program, providing $2.7 million to locally-owned, small retailers, and service merchants in commercial space who have been forced to close because of the Governor’s non-essential business order.
- An Agriculture Assistance Program, providing $800,000 in total grant assistance to support local, full or part-time farms affected by the decreased demand by local restaurants as well as a drastic decline in commodity prices.
- A Restaurant Assistance Program, providing $2.0 million to locally-owned restaurants for support for accommodations required to re-open outdoor or indoor service and customer access.
WHAT: Business Relief Grants Press Conference
WHEN: Wednesday, July 15th, 2020 at 11 a.m.
WHERE: Shops at Savage Mill, 8600 Foundry St, Savage, MD 20763. For detailed directions, please see below.
WHO: Calvin Ball, County Executive
Larry Twele, CEO of Howard County Economic Development Authority
Jay Winer, Managing Partner of Historic Savage Mill
Directions for Media: When you enter the Mill property, park in the first parking lots on the left. As you walk toward the Mill, you will see the Courtyard entrance. Before you get to that entrance, turn 90 degrees to the right and you will see the loading dock for the New Weave Building. Walk toward the loading dock. To the left of the loading dock is a smaller entrance with a mailbox and sign outside. This is the entrance you will want to use. When you go through that door, turn to the right and you will be at the entry way to the New Weave Building. Walk through that entry way and to the opposite end and you will see the staircase where the press conference is being held.
Attached photo of Howard County business relief grant checks being mailed, left to right are Angela Price, Acting Director, Department of Finance, Lawrence F. Twele, CEO, Howard County Economic Development Authority, Kierra Kimmie, Business Operations Analyst, Howard County Economic Development Authority, and Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive.