The Montgomery County Economic Development Grant Program for Nonprofits has awarded 108 County nonprofits a total of $3.3 million in State funding to help the nonprofits recover from the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis. The program is administered by the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC).
The grants range from $7,500 to $45,000 with a wide variety of missions.
The program included 19 “High Impact Grants,” with awards ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. Those specially selected grants were awarded to nonprofits to carry out particularly impactful work in the economic development and job creation space. The work of the nonprofits includes STEM education, women and minority entrepreneurship, workforce training and support for underserved communities.
“Montgomery County is home to the largest number of nonprofits in Maryland,” said Benjamin H. Wu, president and CEO of MCEDC. “This program recognizes the importance of our local nonprofit community to the economy, not just for the numbers they employ, but also how their individual missions can make an impact in critical economic development areas. We’re pleased to award special High Impact Grants to selected nonprofits to fulfill the potential of their economic development programs. We look forward to working with all of the nonprofit grant recipients to support a rapid economic recovery.”
Three examples of High Impact Grant recipients were:
The program included two rounds of application submissions and a selection committee review of the applicants. The eight-person selection committee identified qualified recipients for the grant awards and included State Senator Cheryl Kagan and Lesley J. MacDonald, executive director of Nonprofit Montgomery.
The program included 19 “High Impact Grants,” with awards ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. Those specially selected grants were awarded to nonprofits to carry out particularly impactful work in the economic development and job creation space. The work of the nonprofits includes STEM education, women and minority entrepreneurship, workforce training and support for underserved communities.
“Montgomery County is home to the largest number of nonprofits in Maryland,” said Benjamin H. Wu, president and CEO of MCEDC. “This program recognizes the importance of our local nonprofit community to the economy, not just for the numbers they employ, but also how their individual missions can make an impact in critical economic development areas. We’re pleased to award special High Impact Grants to selected nonprofits to fulfill the potential of their economic development programs. We look forward to working with all of the nonprofit grant recipients to support a rapid economic recovery.”
Three examples of High Impact Grant recipients were:
- Learning Undefeated’s mobile STEM lab. It will engage Montgomery County Public Schools students in hands-on, experiential STEM learning focused on minority entrepreneurship. The Emerging Leaders program includes hands-on workshops and career-focused sessions that nurture technical skills and support job prospecting for young women of color (ages of 14-22).
- Housing Unlimited is a Silver Spring-based community nonprofit that provides affordable, independent housing to vulnerable residents in mental health recovery. It also promotes economic development activities in the County. It plans to use the grant monies for homes that need funding for capital improvements, structural repairs, replacement of aging HVAC systems and other expenses including assisting with costs for a new maintenance position.
- The Red Wiggler Community Farm is a sustainable farm in Germantown where people with and without developmental disabilities come together to work, learn and grow healthy food. The funding will enable the farm to continue to grow its Community Supported Agriculture Program distribution efforts and salaries in an equitable manner. It is on track to accomplish its Fiscal Year 2021 goal of distributing 50 percent of total vegetable yield to neighbors in need through partnering with local food banks, food hubs and pop-up pantries.
The program included two rounds of application submissions and a selection committee review of the applicants. The eight-person selection committee identified qualified recipients for the grant awards and included State Senator Cheryl Kagan and Lesley J. MacDonald, executive director of Nonprofit Montgomery.
To learn more about the MoCo Economic Development Grant Program for Nonprofits, see the grant page at https://thinkmoco.com/covid-19-resources/nonprofits-grant-program.
Funding was provided by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). DHCD appropriated the State funds through the RELIEF Act of 2021 that was approved by the General Assembly and was signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan earlier this year.
The MoCo Economic Development Grant Program for Nonprofits is the latest of multiple business assistance funding administered by MCEDC to support economic recovery from the health crisis. In the past year, MCEDC has provided more than $22 million in direct grant support to businesses for Restaurant Relief (three phases), a Local Production Fund, a Telework Assistance Fund, the 3R Initiative and the MoCo Economic Development Grant Program for Nonprofits.
Funding was provided by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). DHCD appropriated the State funds through the RELIEF Act of 2021 that was approved by the General Assembly and was signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan earlier this year.
The MoCo Economic Development Grant Program for Nonprofits is the latest of multiple business assistance funding administered by MCEDC to support economic recovery from the health crisis. In the past year, MCEDC has provided more than $22 million in direct grant support to businesses for Restaurant Relief (three phases), a Local Production Fund, a Telework Assistance Fund, the 3R Initiative and the MoCo Economic Development Grant Program for Nonprofits.
