MDOT Purple Line Small Business Grant Program

The MDOT Purple Line Small Business Grant Program sits under the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transit Administration, and it is built to cushion small businesses along the Purple Line corridor during construction. The program runs through 2028, with about $1 million set aside each year across Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. It is a disruption-mitigation grant rather than an expansion grant, aimed at businesses that were already operating before the rail work began. Awards go up to $50,000 per business, with up to three rounds a year. Eligible applicants must be within a quarter mile of the alignment, have 50 or fewer employees, report under $2 million in average annual gross sales, and have been at the same location before July 1, 2023. Applicants also need active state standing, a W-9, and proof of business status through Maryland Business Express. The strongest applications are the ones that can show location, timing, and a real revenue hit from corridor construction. The program is designed for operating businesses that can document local presence and compliance, and the awards are taxable income. That makes it a practical fit for storefronts and service businesses near the work zone rather than for firms seeking project capital.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.