FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2021

CONTACT
Kristin O’Keefe
VP of Communications & Marketing
240-641-6703 
kristin@thinkmoco.com

State-Funded Grants Will Aid Local Nonprofits Supporting Economic Development

 Rockville, Md. — The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) will build on the success of its Phase One grant program for nonprofits and administer an expanded Phase Two economic development grant program for qualifying nonprofits in Montgomery County, MD.

Phase Two applications will open on August 9, 2021 and close August 18, 2021. The new program would provide competitively selected grants ranging from $7,500 to $25,000 with additional potential grants of $50,000 or $100,000. Phase Two of the MoCo Economic Development Grant Program for Nonprofits was developed with feedback from the nonprofit community. Phase One focused on local nonprofits making an impact in four specific economic development priority areas such as women and minority entrepreneurship and STEM education. Phase Two will offer a broader eligibility for applicants without the need to be limited to just the four Phase One program areas. Phase Two applications will be open to all qualifying nonprofits that offer local programming and can specify how the funds have or will contribute to economic development in Montgomery County.

In addition to being able to specify how grant funds would contribute to economic development in the county, Phase Two criteria include: 

Eligible nonprofits should have annual revenues of no more than $4 million and no less than$25,000 for the most recent fiscal year; and

Eligible initiatives must have started no earlier than March 2020, and nonprofits have until theend of 2021 to utilize the funds.

Phase One applicants will be notified of their status on or around Monday, August 9. Recipients of a Phase One grant should not reapply for Phase Two funding. A small number of grant recipients will be selected to receive $50,000 or $100,000 awards. Recipients of these awards will be notified on or around Tuesday, August 24.

“With so many of Montgomery County’s 7,000 nonprofits helping to promote economic development, we’re creating a second funding round to support additional nonprofits,” said Benjamin H. Wu, President and CEO of MCEDC. “Our county leads the state in the number of nonprofits. With new expanded eligibility criteria in this next round of applications, we’re looking forward to supporting even more local nonprofits that are contributing to our economic recovery.”

Applications for Phase Two of the MoCo Economic Development Grant Program for Nonprofits applications will be accepted starting Monday, August 9. All online applications must be submitted to MCEDC by 5 p.m., Wednesday, August 18. The funds will be distributed to all selected nonprofits no later than October 1 and the selected nonprofits must make use of the funds no later than December 31, 2021.

To support the work of local nonprofits playing a role in the state’s economic recovery, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) provided MCEDC with $3.4 million for both phases of the MoCo Economic Development Grant Program for Nonprofits. DHCD appropriated the funds through the General Assembly-passed RELIEF Act of 2021 that Governor Hogan signed into law.

More information on eligibility criteria, funding amounts, grant exclusions and additional information can be found on the MCEDC website, with FAQs available in English and Spanish. Additional questions can be sent to nonprofits@thinkmoco.com. 

ABOUT MCEDC

The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) is the official public-private economic development organization representing Montgomery County, Maryland. Created in 2016, MCEDC is led by a Board of Directors of business executives. Its mission is to help businesses start, grow and relocate in Montgomery County by helping them gain access to top talent, business and market intelligence and prime locations. For more information, visit our website. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.