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Maryland Companies Producing Critical PPE Supplies Receive $1.6M in Grants

20 Maryland Companies Working To Manufacture Critical Supplies
Including Face Shields, Masks, Gowns, And Ventilators


ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that Maryland has awarded more than $1.6 million in a first round of grants to 20 Maryland companies for pivoting to or expanding production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in response to COVID-19.

Through the Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Manufacturing Fund administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce, companies are receiving grants of up to $100,000 to manufacture everything from face shields, gowns, N-95 masks, and respirator parts to battery packs for ventilators.

“Ramping up our supply of PPE is a critical building block in our state’s recovery plan, and we are taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to secure these resources for our front line workers,” said Governor Hogan. “I want to thank and commend the local businesses who have shifted their operations and increased production to help us save lives and flatten the curve.”

The $5 million program was created in response to a growing demand for items to protect health care and front line workers, including face shields, surgical masks and gowns and gloves, as well as items for hospitals, like thermometers, respirators, and ventilators. The program received more than 200 applications, and additional grants will be made available in the coming weeks.

“We quickly created this program to address an immediate critical need, and our business community has responded in a big way,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “Many of these companies have had to rapidly ramp up production of these items, while others pivoted completely from their normal operations and came up with a creative way they could help, with some adding new jobs in the process.”

The following Maryland companies are receiving grant funding:

 Grant Recipient  County  Typical Production   COVID-19 Production
 Awesome Ninja Labs   Baltimore City  Medical devices  Face shields
 CoastTec   Carroll  Battery back-ups for computers  Battery packs for Vyaire ventilators
 CR Daniels  Howard  Textile, plastics, and metal manufacturing  Face masks and gowns
 DiPole Materials  Baltimore City  Custom nanofiber manufacturing  Filters for medical masks and respirators
 DVF Corporation   Washington  Metal and plastic fabrications  Plastic components of respirators
 Fashions Unlimited  Baltimore City  Apparel manufacturing  Surgical masks and protective gowns
 Fabrication Events   Howard  Special event decor  Face masks, head coverings, and other PPE
 Harbor Designs   Baltimore City  Manufacturing design and engineering  Ventilators
 Hardwire, LLC  Worcester  Bulletproof body armor and equipment for law enforcement and the military  Face shields
 K&W Finishing  Baltimore City  Traditional die cutting, coating, and other bindery services  Face shields
 Key Technologies  Baltimore City  Medical devices  Blower units for positive air pressure respirators
 LAI International   Carroll  Components for aerospace and defense,medical devices, and infrastructure systems  Face shields
 Manta BioFuels   Baltimore County  Energy technology  Face shields
 Marty’s Bag Works  Anne Arundel  Canvas boating products, cushions, laser printing, and bags  Surgical masks, face shields, and lightweight gowns
 Nations Photo Lab   Baltimore County  Full-service photo printing  Face shields
 NRL & Associates  Queen Anne’s  Ultra-precision machining, fabrication, and assembly  Ventilators
 Potomac Photonics   Baltimore County  Biotech and medical devices  PPE visors
 Rankin Upholstery  Montgomery  Auto, marine, aircraft and custom upholstery  Masks, gowns, and other PPE
 Strouse   Carroll  Adhesive solutions  N-95 masks
 X-Laser  Howard  Laser light show systems  Face shields

“After hearing story after story of ventilator shortages, I wanted to put our resources to use to help,” said Jonathan Sevel, CEO of CoastTec. “I knew that our company is adaptable enough to focus engineering and manufacturing towards a cost-effective viable strategy to get non-working ventilators back into circulation. We estimate that we will be able to manufacture 200-300 ventilator battery packs per day, hopefully easing some of the strain on the system.”

“The Commerce Department’s rapid response to getting us assistance has given us the confidence to invest in our filter production equipment and allowed us to bring on an additional dozen employees to operate it,” said Ken Malone, chairman of DiPole Materials. “Importantly, our expansion will also allow us to rapidly grow our business post-crisis when we pivot back to being a custom manufacturer of high performance materials.”

For additional business resources available during the COVID-19 outbreak, please visit businessexpress.maryland.gov/coronavirus. For health resources, including case counts and clinician guidance, visit coronavirus.maryland.gov.

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