Second round of Project Restore funds announced, businesses on track to expand

February 23, 2022

Javari Burnett,

MARYLAND- Communities across Maryland may see more open for businesses signs as the second round of awardees for Governor Larry Hogan’s Project Restore award were announced Tuesday.

This round of awards includes over 200 businesses, totaling $14.5 million dollars in support. Overall, more than 350 businesses statewide will find support with help from the program. “It’s basically turning vacant properties in to viable commercial business. It’s incentivized people who were on the cuffs of maybe expanding to actually move into a neighboring facility,” Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development Kenneth C. Holt said.

“They’ll be able to do more business with other businesses. Again the elimination of an empty store front, an empty warehouse, or empty building of any kind is always good for the local economy,” President Dorchester Chamber of Commerce Bill Christopher said.

The program offers rental and operational grants, with a goal of alleviating financial barriers and revamping vacant spaces for commercial use. Governor Hogan is now pushing new legislation, Senate Bill 0393 or the Project Restore Act, aiming to make that funding permanent.

Beat the Rush Delivery Service in Cambridge Owner Amanda Kidd says that’s something she’d be grateful for, as they provide personal shopping and delivery needs for those with limited resources. “It is something that was sought after during the pandemic. Since then, things have kind of leveled out for us. We do have other services that we provide virtually such as cooking classes,” Kidd said.

Not only does the project restore funds start construction for a brand new kitchen space for Beat The Rush, but it allows owners the chance to put money back into the business. Kidd tells 47ABC, most funds for operations have come out of own pocket.

“We’ve picked up very little funding as far as loans and things like that. So its really helping us to commit to being a debt-free company,” Kidd says.

Kidd also tells 47ABC that despite having competition from bigger delivery/shopping services available in the area, what separates Beat The Rush is its commitment to providing quality service to all it’s customers. The brand has a web application is the works to keep in constant communication with its drivers and shoppers.