A new grant program will support new and existing restaurants, food entrepreneurs, and culinary concepts in downtown Baltimore.
The Baltimore Culinary Exchange grant program will fund businesses in the Downtown Management Authority district, which includes parts of the Inner Harbor, Bromo Arts, and Charles Center.
“Baltimore’s restaurants don’t just feed us—they create jobs, power our economy, and bring people together,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement. “Through the Baltimore Culinary Exchange and Downtown RISE, we’re investing in their continued success, and building a more vibrant Downtown for all Baltimoreans to enjoy.”
Downtown Baltimore is home to more than 360 restaurants. About half of those are located within DPOB’s business improvement district and support more than 1,400 jobs, according to a news release.
“The Baltimore Culinary Exchange is more than a grant—it’s a strategy to strengthen the food economy at the heart of our city,” said Shelonda Stokes, president of Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, in a statement. “By helping entrepreneurs stabilize operations and enhance their spaces, we’re fueling long-term growth and making sure Baltimore’s vibrant food culture continues to thrive downtown.”
The program will provide two types of grants: operations-only grants, providing between $10,000 and $40,000 for a business’s operating costs; and building & operations grants, providing between $50,000 and $200,000 for both the operating costs and improvements to the property’s interior and exterior. For the latter grant, operating costs may comprise no more than $25% of the total funds the business is requesting.
Applications will be prioritized for businesses that are 51% or more minority- or women-owned; have 50 or fewer full-time employees; have been in operation for at least two years; are located in targeted areas of investment within the Downtown Management Authority district; or will occupy a currently vacant restaurant or café space with existing equipment and/or infrastructure.
The Downtown Partnership of Baltimore will administer the Baltimore Culinary Exchange program in collaboration with the mayor’s office. Funding for the grant program comes from Downtown RISE and the American Rescue Plan Act.
DPOB will host four virtual application sessions on May 6 and May 12. Interested applicants can register for those sessions here.
Applications for both grants are open now through May 30.
Grant awards will be announced in July.
While the restaurant industry is sadly putting hundreds of thousands of dollars into the establishments.. servers and waitresses are still making under $4 an hour and still expected to perform top notch.. when will there be a boycott for servers/waitresses and people in the food industry to get a livable wage?And not have to rely on tips?Make it make sense
Hello, I am having an issue connecting with the link provided to attend the trainings on May 6th and 12th.
Can disown please send the correct link to register to me directly?
I sent the link to the email address you provided. Sorry for the trouble!