Business Resource Links
Find a variety of resources to help you from local, State and Federal governments www.reliefwizard.net
There is also an Annapolis Small Business Friends COVID-19 peer group on Facebook you may wish to join.
The following links have a great collection of resources to help you plan for you and your business during the COVID-19 crisis.
New resources are added frequently to this page. Please contact us if you know a resource that should be added here.
Economic Development Offices
City of Annapolis Economic Development
Anne Arundel Economic Development
OPEN Maryland
U.S. Small Business Administration
Marketing Help
Free starter website from Wix.com
Free online Shopping cart. Start selling on your website, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, Google today by Ecwid.
Free do it yourself graphic design help from canva.com
Kabbage launched an online hub to help boost sales for U.S small businesses impacted by COVID-19, including a system through which businesses can sell gift cards to consumers for use at a later date.
Open while closed signage templates
Open Online Signs - The Downtown Annapolis Partnership has created templates that you can use to promote your online store, gift card sales and carryout and delivery options and we left space to add your website address. To learn more click here.
Dine Small - This is an expansion of the Shop Small marketing campaign. Download free marketing materials.
Watch Anytime
Webinars
How to apply for the SBA EIDL Loan
by Maryland SBDC
A collection of marketing webinars by BrightTALK connects you with modern marketers. Updated weekly.
A collection of sales webinars by BrightTalk to empowers sales leaders with information that accelerates growth. Updated regularly.
A collection of small business management webinars by BrightTalk. Updated regularly.
For Artists and Musicians
Gospel Music Trust Fund Individuals who’ve worked for 10+ years in the gospel music field (full-time) can submit a request for financial assistance to the Gospel Music Trust Fund, which grants funding in the event “of an emergency or major catastrophe, terminal or severe illness,” according to their website. Call 615-969-2781 for additional information.
PEN American Writer's Emergency Fund This fund is for professional (published or produced) writers and editors who are in an acute financial crisis.
Annapolis Musician Fund for Musicians Temporary support for local musicians.
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund
If you're a musician or music industry worker who lost 50% of your income, you're eligible to apply to this fund.
Musicians Foundation Fund United States-based musicians who've been active for the past five years are eligible to apply for a microgrant. Keep in mind, this fund also asks for paperwork proving that most of your income has come from your work as a musician.
Any American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) member in good standing is entitled and encouraged to apply for financial assistance through the AGMA Relief Fund.
Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant is for painters, printmakers, and sculptors who have been creating mature art for at least 10 years, and have recently undergone an unforeseen catastrophic event such as a fire, flood, or medical emergency.
Safe Business Checklists
Barbicide Certification Course for Barbers & Salons
National Institute of Environmental Health Services online training
Non-traditional Funding
The Amber Grant for Women-owned Small Businesses Grants for women owned businesses given out monthly.
Backstage Capital provides support to startup founders through programs and grants. Applicants must identify as women, people of color and/or LGBTQ+ members and be affiliates with a for-profit stage company.
Maryland Financial Incentives for Business. A database of state-managed grants, loans, and tax credits for Maryland businesses.
The Arundel Community Reinvestment (ACR) Fund is available for downtown Annapolis and West Street businesses from Church Circle to Chinquapin Round. Loans up to $100,000 at zero percent interest for improvements, renovation and upgrades to building exteriors and site improvements, including landscaping. If exterior improvements exceed $60,000, the applicant may include up to $40,000 in interior improvements. In addition to financial assistance, the program includes professional architectural services provided by a full-service architectural firm with experience in commercial revitalization.
VOLT Fund for small and minority, women and veteran-owned businesses in Maryland. Loans are between $25,000 to $500,000 for purposes such as business and commercial real estate acquisition and expansion, leasehold improvements, equipment, and working capital.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program PACE, allows property owners to make making energy-efficient upgrades to your building with no money down.
Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation’s Workforce Training Grant A matching grant program for on-the-job training, classroom/offsite training, purchasing training software, and train-the-trainer scenarios. Though designed primarily to train employees of companies that are expanding or plan to relocate to Anne Arundel County, they will consider other types of employee training for the program.
Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits through their Small Business Grants Program. Learn more.
The James Beard Foundation has launched the Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund. The organization will draw support from the corporate, foundation, and individual donors to offer micro-grants to restaurants, bars, and other independent businesses in the industry.
Kiva, an organization that offers 0% interest loans to entrepreneurs in the U.S., has expanded eligibility and increased loan size for small businesses impacted by the spread of COVID-19.
Maryland Capital Enterprises, Inc (MCE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that specializes in supporting microenterprise and small business needs on Maryland's Eastern Shore and in the Annapolis - Baltimore area. Founded in 1998, MCE serves low-income and underserved entrepreneurs with business assistance, technical assistance, business training and loans. Loan limits are $5,000 to $50,000 for microloans and $5,000 to $150,000 for small business loans. MCE was certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
LGBTQ+ business grant and resource links