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Business Grants & Loans

City of Rockville Business Grants & Loans

MOVE Expansion Small Business Impact Fund
PurposeDesigned to help attract businesses to the City of Rockville that occcupy office, industrial, flex & retail spaceDesigned to help retain businesses to the City of Rockville that occcupy office, industrial, flex & retail spaceDesigned to help qualified, small- or medium-sized businesses scale through the use of specific projects such as marketing, tenant improvements, signage & facade upgrades, and equipment purchase or upgrades
Existing CompaniesNoYesYes
New CompaniesYesNoNo
Space UseOffice, Industrial, Flex & Retail Users Office, Industrial, Flex & Retail Users Office, Industrial, Flex, Retail Users & Co-working space
Square FootageMinimum 500 for retail use

Minimum 1,000 for Office, Industrial & Flex use
Minimum 500 for retail use

Minimum 1,000 for Office, Industrial & Flex use
N/A
Lease Length (Years)Minimum 3 YearsMinimum 3 YearsMinimum 1 Year
Other Qualifications•Must be moving within the City limits and the location is the first in the City.
•Property categorized as Class A or B.
•Applicant can operate in any industry sector
•Leased or purchased space must be greater than or equal to 500 square feet for retail use or 1,000 square feet for office, industrial or flex use.
•Good standing with the city, county & State.
• Be an existing business within the City limits of Rockville
• Property categorized as Class A or B
• Space must be classified as office, industrial, flex or retail
• Leased or purchased space must be greater than or equal to 500 square feet for retail use or 1,000 square feet for office, industrial or flex use.
• Good standing with the city, county & State
• Be an existing business within the City limits of Rockville
• Identify project to scale business
• Describe how business contributes to the public
• Applicant can operate in any industry sector
• Must be in leased, coworking, or owned space within City limits
• Good standing with the city, county & State
• Businesses need to be in operation for a minimum of 3 years
Performance PeriodThree Years Three Years Depends on grant amount
Process1. Must schedule meeting with designated REDI staff

2. Designated REDI staff will verify that all applicants meet eligibility requirements

3. Incentive Review Committee approval

4. Approved applicant provides proof of occupancy

5. Applicant receives grant letter


1. Must schedule meeting with designated REDI staff

2. Designated REDI staff will verify that all applicants meet eligibility requirements

3. Incentive Review Committee approval

4. Approved applicant provides proof of occupancy

5. Applicant receives grant letter
1. Must schedule meeting with designated REDI staff

2. Designated REDI staff will verify that all applicants meet eligibility requirements

3. Incentive Review Committee approval

4. Applicant signs agreement

5. Applicant submits periodic performance reports

6. Must meet with MWBC business counselor every 3 months to assess the progress of the project(s)
Benefit TypeGrants paid out after occupancy permit is received, or proof of occupancy is provided
Grants paid out after occupancy permit is received, or proof of occupancy is provided
Grants paid out after agreement is signed
Incentive Range*Maximum Amount is $40,000Maximum Amount is $40,000N/A
* All grants are subject to availability of funds

Rockville Small Business Impact Fund from the City of Rockville

  • Funding is available for qualified small- and medium-sized businesses that will help boost economic development and strengthen business development.
  • To qualify, applicants must meet the following criteria:
    • Be a qualified, small- or medium-sized business located in the City of Rockville city limits.
    • Offer substantial public benefits.
    • Submit the required application documentation.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to meet with REDI’s Deputy Director, Richelle Wilson prior to submitting their application. For more information, call (301) 315-8096 or email Richelle Wilson at Richelle@RockvilleREDI.org.

Rockville MOVE Program
from the City of Rockville for New or Relocating Businesses

  • One-time grant (maximum grant award $40,000) to businesses that are relocating or expanding from outside the corporate city limits of Rockville, or startups moving into their first commercial space, and purchase or lease space for a minimum of three years.
  • The property must be categorized as Class A or B office, industrial, retail, or flex space.
  • Eligible businesses may receive a grant of up to $4.00 per square foot, which may be combined with a grant from Montgomery County’s MOVE Program for up to $8.00 per square foot.
  • Entire guidelines available here.
  • Online application available here.

For more information, call (301) 315-8096 or email Richelle Wilson at Richelle@RockvilleREDI.org.

Business Expansion Fund
from the City of Rockville for Existing Businesses

  • One-time grant (maximum grant award $40,000) to existing Rockville businesses that seek to lease or purchase a minimum of 1,000 square feet of additional space.
  • The property must be categorized as Class A or B office, industrial, retail, or flex space.
  • Eligible businesses may receive a grant of up to $4.00 per square foot.
  • Entire guidelines available here.
  • Online application available here.

For more information, call (301) 315-8096 or email Richelle Wilson at Richelle@RockvilleREDI.org.

Bank on Rockville
from the City of Rockville for residents (Program paused in 2023)

  • Offers access to safe and affordable checking and savings accounts
  • Connects client to programs on budgeting, crediting counseling, debt management, tax preparation and workforce development

For more information visit the Bank On Rockville webpage or call 240-314-8300.

County and State Programs

Montgomery County MOVE Program
from Montgomery County for New or Relocating Businesses

  • One-time grant to businesses that are new to the county and lease up to 20,000 square feet of Class A or  B office space for a minimum of three years, excluding retail, restaurant, and independent financial or insurance agent/broker establishments.
  • Eligible businesses may receive a grant of $8.00 per square foot for Class A or B commercial space.
  • Application receipt date must be within 90 days of the signed lease date.
  • For more information, contact Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation at (240) 641-6700 or connect@thinkmoco.com.

Montgomery County Business Funding & Incentives
from Montgomery County

  • Review the completed list of wide-ranging resources available from Montgomery County, Maryland, to grow and expand your business.

Montgomery County Economic Development Grant & Loan Program
from Montgomery County for New or Existing Businesses

  • Offers financial assistance for employers that retain or stimulate jobs with priority given to companies in high technology and manufacturing, businesses located in urban revitalization areas, or private employers providing the greatest public benefits.
  • The typical assistance amount ranges from $5,000 to $100,000, although higher amounts are possible for businesses involved in large projects.
  • For more information, contact Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation at (240) 641-6700 or connect@thinkmoco.com.

Bio Lab Reimbursement Grant Program
from Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation for New, Expanding, or Relocating Growth-stage Life Sciences Companies to Help with Infrastructure Needs

  • Awards grants to small-scale biotech companies to help fund lab fit-out costs.
  • Available to help lease small wet lab space (less than 5,000 s.f.) in Montgomery County.
  • Expanding local companies, new start-up companies, and relocating companies are eligible. Companies must agree to be headquartered in Montgomery County for a minimum of three years.
  • Grant requires the company’s one-to-one match towards fit-out costs.
  • For more information, visit MCEDC’s Bio Lab page. To apply for the program, click here.

Video Lottery Terminal Fund (VLT)
from the State of Maryland for Small, Minority, and Women-owned Businesses

  • $10M in funding available for small businesses (less than 500 employees), minority-owned businesses, and women-owned businesses. At least 50% of the VLT allocations will be distributed to qualifying businesses located in targeted areas surrounding six Maryland casinos:
    • Hollywood Casino Perryville (Cecil County)
    • Horseshoe Casino (Baltimore City)
    • Maryland Live (Anne Arundel County)
    • National Harbor (Prince George’s County)
    • Ocean Downs (Worcester County)
    • Rocky Gap (Allegany County)
  • The other 50% will be available to qualifying businesses located throughout Maryland.
  • May be used by retail businesses.
  • For more information or to apply, contact the VLT fund manager for your area. Complete contact information can be found here.

Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program
from the State of Maryland for New or Existing Businesses

  • Provides flexible gap financing to new or expanding small businesses and nonprofit organizations.
  • Financing ranges from $25,000 to $500,000 for up to 50 percent of a project’s total cost.
  • Eligible projects and uses of funds include
    • Mixed-use projects of combining residential and commercial uses
    • New construction or rehabilitation
    • Machinery and equipment
    • Certain other costs associated with opening or expanding a small business
  • For more information contact Michael Haloskey at (410) 514-7237 or michael.haloskey@maryland.gov.

Partnership for Workforce Quality
from the State of Maryland for New or Existing Businesses

  • Training grant funds focused on manufacturing and technology sectors that seek to increase the skills of workers for new technology and production processes, improve productivity, and increase employment stability.
  • Assistance is used to reimburse up to 50% of the costs of qualified projects, with a minimum grant of $10,000 and a maximum grant of $200,000.
  • At least 60% of the funds must go to small businesses with fewer than 150 employees.
  • At least 20% of the funds must go to businesses with more than 500 employees.
  • For more information contact Carla Merritt at (410) 458-2326 or carla.merritt@maryland.gov.

Maryland Business Works
from the State of Maryland for Existing Businesses

  • Training grant funds to upgrade the skills of current employees for private sector businesses with 250 employees or fewer, primarily those providing in-demand products or services and those facing potential layoffs.
  • Assistance is limited to $4,500 per employee with a $40,000 limit per employer each program year.
  • The following types of activities and items are considered allowable training costs:
    • Classroom-based training designed to meet the specific requirements of a business
    • In-house staff training
    • Apprenticeships
    • Instruction provided by consultants
    • Books and training materials
    • Initial proficiency testing
    • English language acquisition
  • For more information contact the Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation at (410) 767-2173.

ExportMD Program
from the State of Maryland for Existing Businesses

  • Helps to offset the costs of marketing internationally for small and mid-sized companies.
  • Assistance is for up to $6,000 in reimbursement for expenses associated with an international marketing project including trade show fees, airfare, translation of brochures, and web site development.
  • In addition, recipients can also receive assistance from the Maryland Department of Commerce’s trade experts.
  • Qualifications for businesses are as follows:
    • Operating in Maryland and in good standing with the Department of Assessments and Taxation
    • Been in existence for at least one year
    • Has not received an ExportMD Award in the last 2 years
    • Is a “small business” as defined by the SBA
    • Planning an international business initiative to commence and conclude within six months of the application deadline
  • For more information contact the Office of International Investment and Trade at (410) 767-0685.

Nonprofit, Interest Free, Micro-Bridge Loan
from the Maryland Department of Commerce and Maryland Nonprofit Development Center for Maryland-based Nonprofit Organizations

  • Short-term financing support to qualifying nonprofit entities between the award date of a government contract and the actual receipt date of those awarded funds.
  • Loans up to $25,000 to support the operations (operating expenses only) of nonprofit entities.
  • Loan repayment must be no later than the date of the final grant or contract payment to the nonprofit entity.
  • Written confirmation from the government entity issuing contract funds is required.
  • Organizations must be located in Maryland and be an IRS-designated, tax-exempt entity under Section 501(c) (3), (4), or (6) under the Internal Revenue Code.
  • For more information, contact Darla Garrett at (410) 767-6963 or darla.garrett@maryland.gov.

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