MDOT Small Business Grant (Purple Line corridor, Maryland)
Maryland Department of Transportation (funded by Purple Line Transit Partners)
Up to $50,000
Grants of up to $50,000 for small businesses near the Purple Line in Maryland affected by construction. Round 3 closes November 7, 2026.
The Maryland Department of Transportation gives grants of up to $50,000 to small businesses within a quarter mile of the Purple Line light rail route in Prince George's and Montgomery counties that are hurt by construction closures or detours. A business must have 50 or fewer employees, annual gross sales of $2,000,000 or less, and have been open at its current location before January 1, 2025. Round 3 of 2026 is open through November 7, 2026, with awards announced December 16, 2026. The program runs up to three rounds a year through 2028 and is described as highly competitive.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $0 – $50,000
- Realistic amount
- Up to $50,000, but the program gave $3 million to 287 businesses since 2025, about $10,500 each on average.
- Deadline
- Round 3 closes November 7, 2026; awards announced December 16, 2026
- Status
- active
- States
- MD
Who qualifies
- Existing business active and in good standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation
- In good standing with all federal and State taxing and licensing authorities
- Open and operating at its current location along the Purple Line before January 1, 2025, and currently open to customers
- Customer-facing onsite location within one-quarter mile of the existing or future Purple Line tracks (not a residential location)
- 50 or fewer employees in the most recent fiscal year
- Annual gross sales of $2,000,000 or less in each of the most recent five fiscal years
- Not a cannabis, tobacco, alcohol, pawn, gun, massage, adult, tanning, gambling or tattoo business
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Payroll and healthcare benefits
- Contract labor
- Working capital
- Business rent or mortgage payments
- Supplier payments
- Machinery and equipment
- Critical operating expenses
- Utilities for business locations
Ineligible expenses
- See official program guidance
How to apply
-
1
Check your location
Confirm the business sits within one-quarter mile of the Purple Line alignment and was open there before 2025.
~20 min
-
2
Get your good-standing proof
Print a screenshot of Active and Good Standing from Maryland Business Express and fill out an IRS W-9.
~30 min
-
3
Apply on the Maryland OneStop portal
Complete all required fields and attach the W-9 and good-standing proof before November 7.
~1.5 hrs
Awards are prioritized by how close you are to the worst construction impacts in the last or next six months, so describe the closures or detours that hit your storefront. Being eligible does not guarantee a grant.
Deadline & timing
2026 schedule: Round 1 3/2 to 4/3, Round 2 6/29 to 8/28, Round 3 9/29 to 11/7 (awards 12/16/2026). Businesses must apply for each round. The program started in 2025 and ends in 2028, funded at $1 million a year.
Applications are open — don’t lose the window
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Required documents
- Completed application on the Maryland OneStop portal
- IRS Form W-9
- Proof of Active and Good Standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (a screenshot is enough)
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Last updated October 31, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.