Maryland Lands $3.7 Billion Software-Defined Shipyard

Businesses and community organizations in Hyattsville, Maryland, have until November 20 to apply for grants supporting business development, public programming, and improvements to commercial areas.

The City of Hyattsville is accepting applications for its 2026 Corridor Investment Program, which provides financial assistance for projects intended to strengthen local commercial activity.

Depending on the proposed project, eligible applicants may request grants ranging from $1,500 to $5,000.

The program supports collaboration among businesses, improvements to public-facing spaces, and initiatives that contribute to economic development.

Three Types of Funding Available

Hyattsville offers three grant categories through the Corridor Investment Program.

The Programming Grant provides up to $1,500 for qualifying public events and programming.

Projects organized by private businesses must involve at least three nearby businesses working together and must be open to the public.

Examples could include coordinated commercial district activities, collaborative events, and other programming designed to attract visitors.

The Public Placemaking Grant offers up to $2,500 for improvements accessible to the public.

Eligible projects may include benches, planters, outdoor furniture, murals, and other improvements that enhance commercial areas.

Local artists are encouraged to collaborate with businesses on public art projects.

The Business Development Grant provides up to $5,000 for qualifying business support activities.

Eligible uses include consulting services, business development workshops, and certain commercial tenant assistance.

Commercial Tenant Assistance Included

One feature of the Business Development Grant is a one-time commercial tenant subsidy for qualifying small businesses.

The subsidy is intended for businesses that provide products or services underrepresented in the local marketplace or that hold qualifying women-owned or minority-owned business certifications from Maryland or Prince George’s County.

This assistance may be relevant to businesses establishing or maintaining commercial operations in Hyattsville.

However, the program does not provide unrestricted funding for general construction or renovation expenses.

Structural repairs, interior construction, and roof repairs are specifically excluded from the Business Development Grant.

Applicants should review the program’s published guidelines to determine whether their proposed expenses qualify.

Grants Can Cover Up to 80% of Project Costs

The Corridor Investment Program can provide funding for up to 80% of eligible project or program expenses.

That means applicants generally must provide the remaining portion of project costs.

For example, a qualifying $5,000 project could potentially receive $4,000 in grant assistance, subject to program approval.

The city’s published grant limits continue to apply regardless of the total project cost.

Applications are reviewed through the city’s economic development process, and funding is not guaranteed simply because a proposal meets the basic eligibility requirements.

Applications Close November 20

The current application deadline is November 20, 2026, at 5 p.m.

Hyattsville provides application access and program information through its official Business Incentives webpage.

Businesses interested in participating should identify their proposed project, confirm the appropriate grant category, and prepare supporting information before applying.

The city’s Community and Economic Development Department can provide additional information about the program.

Supporting Local Commercial Activity

The Corridor Investment Program takes a broader approach to business assistance than traditional equipment or property improvement grants.

Rather than concentrating exclusively on physical renovations, it also supports collaboration, business services, and activities that encourage customers to visit local commercial areas.

For qualifying businesses, the program offers an opportunity to offset some of the costs associated with these initiatives.

Applications must be submitted by November 20.

Category: Small Business Grants & Economic Development

Program: 2026 Corridor Investment Program

Application deadline: November 20, 2026, at 5 p.m.

Maximum grant: $5,000 for qualifying business development projects

Funding structure: Up to 80% of eligible project costs

Maryland has awarded more than $4.3 million to nine organizations supporting technology infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and workforce development.

TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, announced the awards October 29, 2026, during its annual Entrepreneur Expo.

The funding comes from the third round of Maryland’s Equitech Growth Fund.

According to TEDCO, the selected projects are expected to create or sustain 244 jobs while expanding access to technical education and entrepreneurship resources.

Nine Organizations Receive Funding

The latest funding round provides a combined $4,327,579 to organizations operating across seven Maryland jurisdictions.

The awards are divided between infrastructure development and workforce training.

Five infrastructure projects received a combined $3,615,205.

Four workforce development projects received another $712,374.

The funding supports activities involving laboratory facilities, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, cybersecurity, clean technology, and entrepreneurship.

Infrastructure Awards Support Technology Development

Three organizations received infrastructure awards of $1 million each.

Ayatris Inc., located in Frederick County, received $1 million.

Riggle Capital, located in Baltimore City, also received $1 million.

Washington College, located in Kent County, received another $1 million.

Additional infrastructure awards include $415,205 for Baltimore-based MelaTech and $200,000 for Integrated Pharma Services in Montgomery County.

These projects are intended to expand resources supporting technology development and related commercial activities.

Individual project activities will depend on the approved funding agreements.

Workforce Training Receives Additional Funding

Four organizations received funding for workforce development.

NPower Inc., located in Baltimore City, received $250,000.

The Maryland Clean Energy Center in Prince George’s County received $170,374.

Defense Interns Corp in Harford County received $150,000.

The Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership in Howard County received $142,000.

These awards support initiatives intended to prepare workers for technical occupations and improve access to industry training.

TEDCO projects that the nine funded projects will collectively provide industry-recognized credentials to approximately 1,000 jobseekers and technical training to 1,500 Maryland residents.

The agency also expects the projects to support approximately 100 entrepreneurs.

These are program projections rather than completed training or employment outcomes.

Competition for Funding Increased

TEDCO received 136 applications during the latest funding round.

That represents a 45% increase compared with the previous year.

Applicants represented 16 Maryland jurisdictions and 11 industries.

Major application categories included entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, information technology, healthcare, life sciences, and technical education.

The Equitech Growth Fund was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 2023.

Its purpose is to support infrastructure and workforce development associated with the state’s innovation economy.

What Maryland Businesses Should Know

The October 29 announcement identifies organizations selected to receive funding.

It does not establish a new application period for unrelated businesses seeking grants from the same funding round.

Entrepreneurs interested in future assistance can review TEDCO’s funding programs and monitor participating organizations for available services.

Training enrollment requirements, business assistance eligibility, and participation dates will depend on individual projects.

For Maryland communities, the latest awards represent new investments in technology infrastructure and workforce development across multiple counties and Baltimore City.

Businesses developing large renewable energy and battery storage projects in Maryland have a new state funding opportunity following the October 26 launch of the Megawatts for Maryland program.

Governor Wes Moore announced that the state will make up to $200 million available over two fiscal years to support qualifying energy development projects.

The program will provide up to $100 million during fiscal year 2027, with another $100 million anticipated for fiscal year 2028.

Funding will be awarded through a competitive auction process administered by the Maryland Energy Administration.

The first application deadline is November 30, 2026.

Funding Supports Large Energy Projects

The program is intended to help developers finance qualifying renewable energy generation and energy storage facilities.

Eligible activities include development, construction, and interconnection expenses.

Qualifying renewable energy projects generally must have a generating capacity of at least five megawatts.

Eligible technologies include solar energy, land-based wind, and other renewable energy sources recognized under Maryland law.

Battery energy storage projects must generally provide at least 20 megawatt-hours of storage capacity with a minimum discharge duration of four hours.

These requirements make the program primarily relevant to commercial-scale energy developers rather than homeowners installing residential solar panels.

Individual Grants Can Reach $80 Million

According to the Maryland Energy Administration’s October 26 funding notice, individual grant requests generally must fall between $1 million and $80 million.

The agency retains discretion to increase the maximum award amount under certain circumstances.

Grant amounts are calculated through a standardized bidding process.

Applicants submit a proposed incentive price based on the electricity their projects are expected to deliver over their commercial operating lives.

Eligible projects requesting the lowest amount of grant assistance per megawatt-hour receive the strongest competitive consideration.

The program does not guarantee that every eligible applicant will receive funding.

Two Application Deadlines

The application process has two stages.

During the first stage, developers submit preliminary information demonstrating that their projects meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

The Stage 1 deadline is November 30, 2026, at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.

Applicants approved during the initial review may advance to Stage 2.

The second stage requires additional documentation and a binding financial bid.

The Stage 2 deadline is January 22, 2027, at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.

The state anticipates announcing award decisions during spring 2027.

Applications are submitted through the Maryland Energy Administration’s online portal.

Projects Must Meet Development Requirements

The program is intended for projects that have progressed beyond the earliest planning stages.

Applicants must demonstrate site control and evidence that applicable regulatory processes have begun.

Projects that have not secured appropriate site arrangements or initiated required regulatory procedures are not eligible.

Additional requirements address financial qualifications, project feasibility, and implementation schedules.

Grant recipients must also satisfy project milestones and reporting requirements.

Under the program guidelines, grant funds are generally disbursed after projects achieve commercial operation and meet the conditions of their grant agreements.

Potential Opportunities for Maryland Businesses

Although the grants are intended for energy developers, successful projects may eventually create demand for construction, electrical installation, engineering, equipment, and related services.

However, no individual construction contracts were announced as part of the October 26 program launch.

Businesses interested in potential supplier opportunities should monitor future project announcements and procurement activity.

Maryland officials say the program is intended to increase electricity generation within the state and help address rising demand.

The state estimates that the initiative could eventually support enough additional generation to serve more than 150,000 homes annually.

Actual electricity production and effects on customer rates will depend on the projects ultimately completed.