The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore is seeking applications for the fourth round of its BOOST (Black-Owned and Operated Storefront Tenancy) program, which supports local minority entrepreneurship while activating vacant retail storefronts in the city’s core.
Feb. 2 at 11:59 p.m. (EST) is the deadline for applications from people who’d like to be considered for the program, which has assisted more than a dozen individuals or groups since 2021. Anyone who is selected and completes the program’s training component will be eligible for grant funding between $20,000 and $100,000 for capital improvement and start-up costs to open a business within the 106-block improvement district that the Downtown Partnership manages.
Participants will receive technical assistance in opening and sustaining their operations, including support from JP Morgan’s Coaching for Impact program that entails one-on-one counseling from JPMorganChase business advisors; assistance with permitting, compliance, and pre-opening planning; marketing efforts from Downtown Partnership’s marketing team; and business training from the Maryland Small Business Development Center.
“The BOOST Program is designed to do exactly that — boost the prospects of local entrepreneurs so they can realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to Downtown’s economic vitality and the broader success of our city,” said Downtown Partnership President Shelonda Stokes, in a statement. “As a signature initiative of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, BOOST is a game changer for minority-owned businesses, intentionally connecting resources, expertise, and networks to build capacity, strengthen systems of support, and expand Downtown’s retail landscape for the benefit of residents, workers, and visitors alike.”
“Small businesses are the backbone of vibrant communities and are a driving force behind the momentum fueling Baltimore’s renaissance,” said JPMorganChase program officer Nadine Duplessy Kearns, in a statement. “We’re proud to continue working with the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore to elevate the BOOST program and empower local entrepreneurs to establish a storefront presence Downtown. Through initiatives like Chase’s Coaching for Impact program, we’re also pleased to provide individualized guidance and resources to help these businesses innovate, grow, and thrive.”
Besides providing basic information about the business they want to open, applicants will be required to submit a thorough business plan detailing economic viability and financial sustainability; information about readiness to open in a storefront location in the Downtown Management Authority boundaries in 2026; details about how the business will contribute to community and cultural vitality of downtown, and evidence that the proposed business aligns with the partnership’s goals of reducing vacancies and providing amenities for area residents and visitors.
The Downtown Partnership will be offering BOOST application training sessions on Jan. 7 and 8. More information is available on the BOOST Program information page on the partnership’s website, www.godowntownbaltimore.com. Selected applicants will be announced in March of 2026.
